SoftBank Bets on AI Backbone With $3 Billion DigitalBridge Deal

SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire US-listed digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in an all-cash transaction valued at about $3 billion, deepening the Japanese conglomerate’s push into data centers and connectivity assets underpinning the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

Under the definitive agreement announced on Monday, SoftBank Group will pay $16 per share for DigitalBridge, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Including assumed debt, the deal values DigitalBridge at about $4 billion, Bloomberg reported. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Bloomberg earlier reported that the two companies were in talks. The agreed offer represents a premium of about 65% to DigitalBridge’s closing share price on 4 December, the last trading day before those discussions became public.

The acquisition fits squarely into SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s renewed focus on building the physical and digital backbone required to support large-scale AI systems.

“As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure,” Son said in the company’s statement.

“DigitalBridge is a leader in digital infrastructure, and this acquisition will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers, advance our vision to become a leading ASI platform provider, and help unlock breakthroughs that move humanity forward,” he added.

For SoftBank, the deal marks a shift from earlier, often volatile bets on consumer internet companies toward asset-heavy infrastructure that generates long-term, contracted cash flows.

DigitalBridge specializes in owning and operating digital infrastructure platforms across data centers, towers, fibre networks, and small cells, positioning it as a critical intermediary between hyperscalers, cloud providers, and capital markets.

DigitalBridge chief executive Marc Ganzi framed the transaction as a way to accelerate that model under a long-term owner with global reach.

“The buildout of AI infrastructure represents one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation,” Ganzi said.

“SoftBank shares our DNA as builders and long-term investors committed to scaling transformational digital infrastructure. Their vision, capital strength, and global network will allow us to accelerate our mission with greater flexibility, invest with a longer-term horizon for our investors, and better serve the world’s leading technology companies as they grow their AI ambitions,” he added.

Once the deal closes, DigitalBridge will be taken private, giving SoftBank tighter control over a portfolio that includes investments in data center and digital infrastructure platforms such as AIMS, AtlasEdge, DataBank, Switch, Vantage Data Centers, and Yondr Group.

The move comes as global demand for AI-related infrastructure triggers a wave of megadeals.

In late 2025, BlackRock’s infrastructure arm agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers in a transaction valued at about $40 billion, partnering with companies including Microsoft, Nvidia, and Abu Dhabi-backed MGX to secure long-term capacity for AI workloads.

Separately, OpenAI and Oracle announced plans to develop up to 4.5 gigawatts of computing capacity, a buildout that could generate more than $300 billion in combined revenue over five years.

DigitalBridge said it had more than $108 billion in assets under management as of the end of September, according to its website, underscoring the scale of capital now flowing into digital infrastructure as AI models become more compute-intensive.

Market reaction to the deal was mixed.

DigitalBridge shares rose nearly 10% to $15.27 in New York trading following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in the premium offer.

SoftBank shares, however, fell 3.4% in early trading in Tokyo on 30 December, as investors weighed the balance sheet impact of another large acquisition.

SoftBank’s interest in the sector appears to extend beyond DigitalBridge.

Bloomberg reported that the group is also exploring a potential acquisition of Switch, a data center operator backed by DigitalBridge, at a valuation of around $50 billion including debt.

The deal reinforces Son’s broader effort to reposition SoftBank as a central financier and operator of AI-era infrastructure. Over the past year, the group has reshuffled its portfolio, selling down stakes in companies such as T-Mobile US and Deutsche Telekom, and exiting its $5.8 billion holding in Nvidia to redeploy capital into OpenAI and other AI-focused ventures.