DigitalBridge Surges on $4 Billion Takeover by SoftBank
SoftBank's all-cash deal at $16 per share is a major bet on the AI infrastructure boom, valuing the data center specialist at a 15% premium.
Shares of DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG) surged in morning trading after SoftBank Group announced a definitive agreement to acquire the digital infrastructure investment firm for approximately $4 billion in an all-cash deal.
The Japanese technology conglomerate will pay $16.00 per share, representing a 15% premium to DigitalBridge's closing price on December 26. The news sent DigitalBridge shares jumping more than 9.7% to $15.27, approaching the acquisition price and touching a 52-week high.
The transaction, which has been approved by DigitalBridge's board of directors, marks a significant strategic move by SoftBank to deepen its control over the essential physical assets underpinning the global AI buildout. DigitalBridge controls a vast portfolio of data centers, cell towers, and fiber networks—critical infrastructure for training and deploying advanced artificial intelligence models.
This acquisition is a cornerstone of SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son's 'Artificial Super Intelligence' (ASI) strategy, providing the company with direct ownership of the compute, connectivity, and power infrastructure it deems necessary for the next wave of technological growth. The move complements SoftBank's other substantial investments in AI-related ventures and solidifies its transition into what some analysts are calling an "AI Investment House," according to recent reports.
Under the terms of the agreement, DigitalBridge will be taken private and operate as a separate, independent platform within the SoftBank ecosystem. CEO Marc Ganzi, a veteran of the digital infrastructure space, will continue to lead the company. This leadership continuity suggests SoftBank's confidence in DigitalBridge's current strategy and management team, aiming to fuel its growth with a massive injection of private capital.
For DigitalBridge, the deal offers an opportunity to accelerate its development of next-generation AI data centers without the quarterly pressures of the public markets. Building out the power-hungry and technically complex facilities required for AI costs billions, and operating under the SoftBank umbrella will provide access to a deeper and more patient capital base.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of major moves within the data center industry, which is undergoing rapid consolidation as the capital demands of the AI era escalate. Analysts see the deal as a strong strategic fit, highlighting SoftBank's clear conviction in the long-term value of DigitalBridge's assets. The premium paid underscores the intense competition for high-quality digital infrastructure portfolios.
The transaction is expected to close following approval by DigitalBridge shareholders and the satisfaction of customary regulatory closing conditions. As reported by Bloomberg Law, the deal highlights a growing trend of major technology investors seeking to control the entire AI value stack, from chip design to the physical data centers themselves.