Japan's SoftBank Group is making its most aggressive move yet into the artificial intelligence infrastructure space, announcing Monday that it has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group for $4 billion in an all-cash transaction. The deal underscores the growing strategic importance of data center capacity as AI applications continue to proliferate across industries.

Deal Structure and Premium

Under the terms of the agreement, SoftBank will pay $16 per share for all outstanding common stock of DigitalBridge, representing a 15% premium to the company's closing price on December 26. More significantly, the offer price represents a 50% premium to DigitalBridge's unaffected 52-week average closing price as of December 4, 2025.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by a special committee of DigitalBridge's Board of Directors and is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Strategic Rationale for SoftBank

SoftBank CEO and Chairman Masayoshi Son, who has positioned the company as a leader in the AI revolution, said the acquisition "will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers." The deal reflects SoftBank's conviction that physical infrastructure will be just as critical as software in determining winners in the AI era.

"This acquisition represents a transformational opportunity to scale next-generation AI infrastructure globally. DigitalBridge's expertise in digital infrastructure investment perfectly complements our mission to realize Artificial Super Intelligence for the advancement of humanity."

— SoftBank Group statement

What DigitalBridge Brings to the Table

DigitalBridge is one of the world's largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure, with approximately $108 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025. The firm's portfolio spans data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure—all critical components of the AI ecosystem.

Following the transaction's close, DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform under the leadership of CEO Marc Ganzi, preserving the specialized expertise that has made it attractive to SoftBank.

Part of a Bigger AI Push

The DigitalBridge acquisition is the latest in a series of bold infrastructure bets by SoftBank. The company is a key participant in Stargate, a large-scale computing and infrastructure initiative launched in partnership with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi-based tech investor MGX. The Stargate project aims to build the massive computational capacity needed to support advanced AI development.

Market Reaction and Implications

DigitalBridge shares surged more than 32% on Monday following the announcement, validating the premium that SoftBank is willing to pay for strategic AI infrastructure assets. The deal could spur additional consolidation in the data center space as technology giants and investment firms compete for the physical capacity that underpins AI workloads.

What This Means for Investors

For investors, the transaction highlights several important themes:

  • Infrastructure is the new battleground: As AI models grow larger and more computationally intensive, control over data center capacity becomes a strategic imperative.
  • Premiums are rising: Quality digital infrastructure assets are commanding significant premiums as buyers compete for scarce capacity.
  • Integration risks remain: With closing expected in late 2026, investors should watch for regulatory hurdles and integration challenges.

The deal serves as a reminder that the AI revolution extends far beyond software companies—the picks and shovels of the digital age may prove just as valuable as the gold they help extract.