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SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group in a USD 4 billion deal to strengthen its exposure to digital infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence. The offer values DigitalBridge at about USD 2.92 billion and includes a premium over its recent share price. DigitalBridge will continue to operate independently under CEO Marc Ganzi. The firm manages USD 108 billion in assets and invests in data centres, fibre networks and related platforms. The deal aligns with SoftBank's wider push into AI-linked computing and infrastructure assets.
SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a transaction valued at about USD 4 billion, as the Japanese conglomerate continues to realign its investment strategy around artificial intelligence and the infrastructure that supports it. The deal strengthens SoftBank's presence in assets critical to AI computing, including data centres, fibre networks and related digital platforms. Advertisement
Following the announcement, DigitalBridge's shares rose nearly 10% during the trading session, extending gains seen earlier in the month after initial reports of takeover discussions surfaced. Investor interest has remained strong, reflecting expectations that demand for large-scale computing and connectivity assets will continue to rise alongside AI adoption.
Under the agreed terms, SoftBank has offered USD 16 per share, representing a premium of around 15% to DigitalBridge's previous closing price. The offer values the company's equity at approximately USD 2.92 billion, with the transaction expected to close in the second half of next year, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
SoftBank has been reshaping its portfolio to focus more sharply on artificial intelligence, data processing and related infrastructure. Founder Masayoshi Son has repeatedly highlighted the growing need for computing capacity as AI applications expand across industries, from cloud services to enterprise software and consumer platforms.
An investor in DigitalBridge noted that the transaction marks an important step in addressing infrastructure constraints linked to AI growth, while also pointing out that SoftBank remains far from having significant control over the global hardware and software services market.
DigitalBridge invests across a wide range of digital infrastructure segments, including data centres, cell towers, fibre networks, small-cell systems and edge infrastructure. Its portfolio companies include Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch and AtlasEdge, which operate across North America and Europe.
The firm was founded in 1991 as Colony Capital with a primary focus on real estate. It later underwent a strategic shift under chief executive Marc Ganzi, exiting most traditional property holdings and repositioning itself as a digital infrastructure specialist. The company rebranded as DigitalBridge in 2021 to reflect this transition.
As part of the acquisition, Ganzi will continue to lead DigitalBridge, which will operate as a separately managed platform within SoftBank's broader investment ecosystem. As of the end of September, DigitalBridge managed about USD 108 billion in assets, placing it among the largest dedicated investors in the global digital infrastructure space.
DigitalBridge is also involved in large-scale AI infrastructure initiatives. Along with OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based technology investor MGX, it is committing billions of dollars to the Stargate project, which aims to build advanced computing capacity to support next-generation AI development. The partners have already outlined plans to develop multiple new computing sites across parts of the US, with a combined power capacity of roughly seven gigawatts once fully operational.
Source Reuters
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