- SoftBank will buy DigitalBridge for about US$4.0bn in cash at US$16 per share, a premium to recent trading levels.
- DigitalBridge manages roughly US$108bn in digital infrastructure assets spanning data centres, fibre, towers, small cells and edge networks, and will remain a separately run platform led by CEO Marc Ganzi.
- SoftBank is targeting control of compute, power and connectivity bottlenecks to scale AI globally and support initiatives like its Artificial Super Intelligence push and Stargate sites.
- The deal is expected to close in H2 2026, subject to shareholder, regulatory and customary approvals.
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First, this deal gives SoftBank direct control over a global portfolio of mission-critical infrastructure at scale. DigitalBridge’s US$108 billion in assets offers SoftBank immediate capacity in data centres, connectivity, towers, and edge infrastructure—elements that are increasingly viewed as bottlenecks in AI deployment. By owning the platform rather than merely investing, SoftBank can better coordinate power, land, site acquisition, and capital allocation to match its compute and scale ambitions.
Second, the acquisition enhances SoftBank’s ability to raise and deploy third-party capital, owing to DigitalBridge’s existing LP structure and infrastructure-investment expertise. This helps de-risk capital intensity, shift some of the funding burden away from SoftBank’s balance sheet, and smooth cash flow through fees and management contracts.
Third, maintaining DigitalBridge as a separately managed platform under Marc Ganzi reduces integration risk and preserves specialized execution capability; important in infrastructure sectors where operational expertise and regional relationships are key. However, complexities remain: regulatory risk (antitrust, foreign investment approvals), energy and real estate constraints, and execution risk in global infrastructure build-outs.
Fourth, valuation and financing: the US$16 per share price locks in a premium to recent trading, but may limit upside unless SoftBank sees synergies or can unlock latent value through scale and operational improvements. SoftBank has already sold its entire Nvidia stake (~US$5.8 billion) to redirect capital toward AI-adjacent opportunities. Funding all AI bets—including StarGate and OpenAI investments—mean a sizable capital commitment. SoftBank must balance deploying capital with managing debt, regulation, and market expectations.
Open questions remain: how quickly SoftBank can deploy this infrastructure to serve its AI and ASI initiatives; whether energy supply and grid capacity will scale to match demand (especially for high-density compute loads); to what extent DigitalBridge’s profile and assets create exposure to geopolitical or regulatory risk; and whether SoftBank’s belief in “physical AI”—from data centres to robotics—will translate into sustainable returns in an increasingly competitive space.
Supporting Notes
- SoftBank will acquire all outstanding common stock of DigitalBridge for US$16.00 per share in cash, in a deal valuing the enterprise at roughly US$4.0 billion.
- This price represents a 15% premium to DigitalBridge’s closing share price on December 26, 2025, and approximately 50% above its unaffected 52-week average closing price (as of December 4, 2025).
- DigitalBridge manages approximately US$108 billion in digital infrastructure assets globally.
- Key infrastructure sectors in its portfolio include data centres, fibre networks, cell towers, small cells, and edge infrastructure.
- Post-deal, DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform under CEO Marc Ganzi.
- The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, with an expected closing in the second half of 2026.
- SoftBank’s strategic rationale emphasizes the need for more compute, connectivity, power and scalable infrastructure to support AI transformation globally.
- SoftBank has been reallocating investment capital: for example, it sold its Nvidia stake (~US$5.8 billion) to fund its AI-focused strategy including this and other projects like Stargate.