SoftBank Acquires DigitalBridge for $4 Billion to Expand Data Centers Amid AI Boom

AI Has Fueled $70 Billion in Data Center M&A Talks This Year

SoftBank's billionaire founder, Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalize on soaring demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the AI boom, and the deal will bring to SoftBank relationships with more investors keen to deploy money in the data center industry. SoftBank Group Corp. agreed to buy private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc. for about $3 billion in cash, part of the Japanese conglomerate's push to invest in data centers and other digital infrastructure fueling the artificial intelligence boom. SoftBank will pay $16 per share for New York-listed DigitalBridge, the companies said in statement Monday, confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. The offer -- valued at $4 billion including debt -- is a 65% premium to DigitalBridge's closing share price on Dec. 4, the last trading day before talks between the two companies were reported. SoftBank's billionaire founder, Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalize on soaring demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the AI boom. The past year has seen a wave of multibillion-dollar deals in the space, largely focused on data centers and the computing power necessary to build and power the technology. The need for capacity has fueled massive transactions, including BlackRock Inc.'s $40 billion purchase of Aligned Data Centers and Oracle Corp.'s agreement to supply OpenAI with about 4.5 gigawatts of computing power worth as much as $300 billion. DigitalBridge is one of the biggest investment firms focused on digital infrastructure, with about $108 billion of assets under management at the end of September, according to its website. DigitalBridge shares jumped 9.7% to $15.27 at 11:57 a.m. in New York, trading slightly below the sale price. The company disclosed about 189 million diluted shares outstanding and equivalents at the end of the third quarter. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. The deal will bring to SoftBank relationships with more investors keen to deploy money in the data center industry. DigitalBridge is led by Chief Executive Officer Marc Ganzi and its portfolio includes digital infrastructure operators such as AIMS, AtlasEdge, DataBank, Switch Inc., Vantage Data Centers and Yondr Group. SoftBank has separately been discussing a potential acquisition of Switch, a data center operator backed by investors including DigitalBridge, Bloomberg News reported earlier in December. Switch's owners have sought a valuation of around $50 billion including debt in a deal, people with knowledge of the matter have said. While SoftBank's most famous bets include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Arm Holdings Plc and WeWork, it has previously done deals in the asset management space. In 2017, it acquired Fortress Investment Group for more than $3 billion. It later sold its stake to a group including Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co. and Fortress management in a deal completed in 2024. In January, SoftBank announced the $500 billion Stargate project, alongside OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi's MGX, to build data centers in the US. While Son pledged to deploy $100 billion "immediately," the rollout of Stargate has been slower than planned, in part because of disagreements over where the data centers should be located. SoftBank initially sought project financing from outside investors including insurance companies, pension funds and investment funds. Some of the conversations dragged due to market volatility, uncertainty around US trade policy and questions about the financial valuations of AI hardware, Bloomberg News reported in May. SoftBank's newest investment push has meant moving some funds around to free up capital. Son this month said he "was crying" over his need to sell a $5.8 billion Nvidia Corp. stake to reallocate the money to other AI spending.

SoftBank to Buy Data Center Firm DigitalBridge for $4 Billion

SoftBank's billionaire founder, Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalize on soaring demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the AI boom, and the deal will bring to SoftBank relationships with more investors keen to deploy money in the data center industry. SoftBank Group Corp. agreed to buy private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc. for about $3 billion in cash, part of the Japanese conglomerate's push to invest in data centers and other digital infrastructure fueling the artificial intelligence boom. SoftBank will pay $16 per share for New York-listed DigitalBridge, the companies said in statement Monday, confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. The offer -- valued at $4 billion including debt -- is a 65% premium to DigitalBridge's closing share price on Dec. 4, the last trading day before talks between the two companies were reported. SoftBank's billionaire founder, Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalize on soaring demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the AI boom. The past year has seen a wave of multibillion-dollar deals in the space, largely focused on data centers and the computing power necessary to build and power the technology. The need for capacity has fueled massive transactions, including BlackRock Inc.'s $40 billion purchase of Aligned Data Centers and Oracle Corp.'s agreement to supply OpenAI with about 4.5 gigawatts of computing power worth as much as $300 billion. DigitalBridge is one of the biggest investment firms focused on digital infrastructure, with about $108 billion of assets under management at the end of September, according to its website. DigitalBridge shares jumped 9.7% to $15.27 at 11:57 a.m. in New York, trading slightly below the sale price. The company disclosed about 189 million diluted shares outstanding and equivalents at the end of the third quarter. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals. The deal will bring to SoftBank relationships with more investors keen to deploy money in the data center industry. DigitalBridge is led by Chief Executive Officer Marc Ganzi and its portfolio includes digital infrastructure operators such as AIMS, AtlasEdge, DataBank, Switch Inc., Vantage Data Centers and Yondr Group. SoftBank has separately been discussing a potential acquisition of Switch, a data center operator backed by investors including DigitalBridge, Bloomberg News reported earlier in December. Switch's owners have sought a valuation of around $50 billion including debt in a deal, people with knowledge of the matter have said. While SoftBank's most famous bets include Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., Arm Holdings Plc and WeWork, it has previously done deals in the asset management space. In 2017, it acquired Fortress Investment Group for more than $3 billion. It later sold its stake to a group including Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co. and Fortress management in a deal completed in 2024. In January, SoftBank announced the $500 billion Stargate project, alongside OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi's MGX, to build data centers in the US. While Son pledged to deploy $100 billion "immediately," the rollout of Stargate has been slower than planned, in part because of disagreements over where the data centers should be located. SoftBank initially sought project financing from outside investors including insurance companies, pension funds and investment funds. Some of the conversations dragged due to market volatility, uncertainty around US trade policy and questions about the financial valuations of AI hardware, Bloomberg News reported in May. SoftBank's newest investment push has meant moving some funds around to free up capital. Son this month said he "was crying" over his need to sell a $5.8 billion Nvidia Corp. stake to reallocate the money to other AI spending.

SoftBank Nears Deal for Data Center Investment Firm DigitalBridge

SoftBank Group Corp. is in advanced talks to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc., a private equity firm that invests in assets such as data centers, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Japanese conglomerate could announce an agreement as soon as Monday for New York-listed DigitalBridge, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Terms of the transaction, part of SoftBank's campaign to take advantage of an AI-driven boom in digital infrastructure, couldn't be learned. A final agreement hasn't been reached and details, including the timing, could still change, the people said. Representatives for SoftBank and DigitalBridge declined to comment. Shares of DigitalBridge, which had fallen 13% this year before Bloomberg News first reported the talks on Dec. 5, rose 45% that day. The company now has a market value of about $2.5 billion, with an enterprise value of $3.8 billion including debt, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. SoftBank's billionaire founder Masayoshi Son is trying to capitalize on soaring demand for the computing capacity that underpins artificial intelligence applications. DigitalBridge, led by Chief Executive Officer Marc Ganzi, had about $108 billion of assets under management at the end of September, according to its website. Its portfolio includes digital infrastructure operators such as AIMS, AtlasEdge, DataBank, Switch, Vantage Data Centers and Yondr Group. SoftBank has previously done deals in the asset management space. In 2017, it acquired Fortress Investment Group for more than $3 billion. It eventually sold its stake to a group including Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co. and Fortress management in a deal completed in 2024. In January, SoftBank announced a $500 billion project called Stargate, alongside OpenAI, Oracle Corp. and Abu Dhabi's MGX, to build data centers in the US. While SoftBank's Son pledged to deploy $100 billion "immediately," the rollout of Stargate has been slower than planned, in part because of disagreements over where the data centers should be located. SoftBank initially sought project financing from outside investors including insurance companies, pension funds and investment funds, but some of the conversations slowed due to market volatility, uncertainty around US trade policy and questions about the financial valuations of AI hardware, Bloomberg News reported in May. OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank announced plans in September for five new sites across Texas, New Mexico and Ohio that will eventually have a capacity of 7 gigawatts of power, or as much as some cities. The push by SoftBank has required shifting some funds around to free up capital. Son this month said he "was crying" over his need to sell a $5.8 billion Nvidia Corp. stake to reallocate the money to other AI spending.

SoftBank to acquire DigitalBridge for $4bn in move to deepen ties to AI

Acquisition would further expand SoftBank's investments in artificial intelligence as it tries to center itself in the boom SoftBank Group will acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a deal valued at $4bn, the companies said on Monday, as the Japanese investment firm looks to deepen its AI-related portfolio. The acquisition would expand SoftBank's exposure to digital infrastructure as the Japanese conglomerate is positioning its portfolio to focus on artificial intelligence. SoftBank's billionaire founder Masayoshi Son is seeking to capitalize on surging demand for the computing capacity that underpins artificial intelligence applications. DigitalBridge invests in digital infrastructure sectors such as datacenters, cell towers, fiber networks, small-cell systems and edge infrastructure, with a portfolio including companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch and AtlasEdge. Founded in 1991 as real estate-focused Colony Capital, the firm pivoted under CEO Marc Ganzi into digital infrastructure and rebranded as DigitalBridge in 2021 after shedding most of its legacy property assets. Ganzi will continue leading DigitalBridge as a separately managed platform, the companies said. As of 30 September, DigitalBridge managed around $108bn in assets, making it one of the largest dedicated investors in the digital ecosystem. SoftBank has ramped up investment in AI as it seeks to position itself at the center of what Son has called a once-in-a-generation technological shift. The company, along with OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based tech investor MGX, is investing billions of dollars in the Stargate project, a large-scale computing and infrastructure initiative aimed at supporting advanced AI development. OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank said in September they plan to build five new computing sites across Texas, New Mexico and Ohio, which are expected to have a combined power capacity of about 7GW when in operation.

Softbank Buys DigitalBridge for $4 Bn to tap Data Centre Infrastructure

SoftBank intends to capitalise on the surge in digital infrastructure driven by AI advancements. Japan's SoftBank Group has reached a definitive agreement to acquire DigitalBridge, a digital infrastructure investment firm, for an enterprise value of around $4 billion. This acquisition is part of the Japanese conglomerate's strategy to capitalise on the surge in data centre infrastructure driven by AI advancements. According to the company, the acquisition will enhance SoftBank Group's capacity to construct, scale, and finance the essential infrastructure needed for future AI services and applications. "As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure," said Masayoshi Son, chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group, in a statement. "This acquisition will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centres, advance our vision to become a leading ASI platform provider, and help unlock breakthroughs that move humanity forward." SoftBank Group will acquire all outstanding common stock of DigitalBridge for $16 per share in cash. This transaction, recommended unanimously by a special committee of independent directors and approved by DigitalBridge's board, represents a 15% premium over the December 26, 2025, closing share price and a 50% premium over the unaffected 52-week average as of December 4, 2025. After the deal, DigitalBridge will operate as a separate entity led by CEO Marc Ganzi. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second half of 2026. "The buildout of AI infrastructure represents one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation," said Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge. "SoftBank shares our DNA as builders and long-term investors committed to scaling transformational digital infrastructure.

SoftBank to acquire AI infrastructure investor DigitalBridge for $4B - SiliconANGLE

SoftBank to acquire AI infrastructure investor DigitalBridge for $4B SoftBank Group Corp. has inked a $4.04 billion deal to buy DigitalBridge Group Inc., a private equity firm that invests in technology businesses. The companies announced the all-cash transaction on Monday a few hours after insiders leaked the news to Bloomberg. SoftBank is paying $16 per share for DigitalBridge, a 16% premium to the firm's last unaffected stock price. NYSE-listed DigitalBridge has about $108 billion in assets under management. One of its portfolio companies is Vantage Data Centers Management Company LLC, a data center builder that is helping OpenAI Group PBC construct a $15-billion-plus Starlink campus in Wisconsin. The site is expected to host four artificial intelligence data centers with a combined computing capacity of nearly 1 gigawatt. Vantage is working on an even larger AI campus in Texas. The site, which is known as Frontier, has a construction budget of over $25 billion. It's set to host 10 data centers optimized to host liquid-cooled graphics card servers. Vantage is building Frontier and OpenAI's Wisconsin site in parallel with more than a dozen other facilities worldwide. DigitalBridge also has a stake in another data center operator, AtlasEdge Ltd., that has a narrower focus. The London-based company builds edge data centers, relatively smaller server clusters that are located closer to users than standard cloud facilities. That proximity reduces network traffic travel times, which is important for certain latency-sensitive applications. Beyond the data center market, DigitalBridge has invested in more than a dozen network infrastructure companies. Several of them specialize in building cell towers for internet providers. There's also Boingo Wireless Inc., which operates small-scale wireless networks at locations such as airports. The acquisition will buy SoftBank not only DigitalBridge's portfolio of companies but also a technology infrastructure lending business. DigitalBridge Credit, as the unit is known, provides loans for projects such as data center construction initiatives. Additionally, the investment firm has a venture capital arm that backs startups in the data center market and adjacent verticals such as cybersecurity. "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," said SoftBank Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son. Private equity firms such as DigitalBridge often have a say in the business decisions of their portfolio companies. Following the deal, SoftBank could potentially leverage that operational involvement to boost its other businesses. The Japanese tech giant has a subsidiary called SB Energy that develops renewable energy installations in the U.S. In theory, the data center operators backed by DigitalBridge could buy electricity from SB Energy to power their future facilities. Additionally, they could expand their use of chips based on designs from Arm Holdings plc, in which SoftBank has a majority stake. The company expects to complete the acquisition in the second half of 2026. DigitalBridge CEO Marc Ganzi will remain at the helm of the investment firm after the transaction closes.

SoftBank to buy DigitalBridge in $4 billion deal to bolster AI infrastructure push

SoftBank Group is acquiring DigitalBridge Group for $4 billion. This deal will boost SoftBank's focus on artificial intelligence. DigitalBridge is a major investor in digital infrastructure like data centers and cell towers. The acquisition is expected to conclude in the latter half of next year. SoftBank aims to leverage the growing demand for AI computing power. SoftBank ⁠Group will acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a deal valued at $4 billion, the companies said on Monday, as the Japanese investment firm looks to deepen its AI-related portfolio. The acquisition would expand SoftBank's exposure to digital infrastructure as the Japanese conglomerate is positioning its portfolio to focus on artificial intelligence. DigitalBridge shares rose about 9.8% to $15.30 on Monday, following a 45% rise earlier this month after Bloomberg News first reported the acquisition talks. The $16 per share offer represents a 15% premium over DigitalBridge's closing price on Friday and values the company at $2.92 billion, with the deal expected to close in the second half of next year. SoftBank's billionaire founder Masayoshi Son is seeking to capitalize on surging demand for the computing capacity that underpins artificial intelligence applications. DigitalBridge invests in digital infrastructure sectors such as data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, small-cell systems and edge infrastructure, with a portfolio including companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch and AtlasEdge. Founded in 1991 as real estate-focused Colony Capital, the firm pivoted under CEO Marc Ganzi into digital infrastructure and rebranded as DigitalBridge in 2021 after shedding most of its legacy property assets. Ganzi will continue leading DigitalBridge as a separately managed platform, the companies said. As of September 30, DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets, making it one of the largest dedicated investors in the digital ecosystem. SoftBank has ramped up investment in AI as it seeks to position itself ⁠at the center of ⁠what Masayoshi Son has called a once-in-a-generation technological shift. The company, along with OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based tech investor MGX, is investing billions of dollars in the Stargate project, a large-scale computing and infrastructure initiative aimed at supporting advanced AI development. OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank said in September they plan to build five new computing sites across Texas, New Mexico and Ohio, which are expected to have a combined power capacity of about seven gigawatts when in operation.

SoftBank buys data center investment firm DigitalBridge

SoftBank Group agreed to buy private equity firm DigitalBridge Group for about $3 billion in cash, part of the Japanese conglomerate's push to invest in data centers and other digital infrastructure fueling the artificial intelligence boom. SoftBank will pay $16 per share for New York-listed DigitalBridge, the companies said in statement Monday, confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. The offer -- valued at $4 billion, including debt -- is a 65% premium to DigitalBridge's closing share price on Dec. 4, the last trading day before talks between the two companies were reported. SoftBank's billionaire founder Masayoshi Son aims to capitalize on soaring demand for digital infrastructure, driven by the AI boom. The past year has seen a wave of multibillion-dollar deals in the space, largely focused on data centers and the computing power necessary to build and power the technology.

SoftBank Buys DigitalBridge In $4 Billion AI Infrastructure Play - DigitalBridge Gr (NYSE:DBRG), SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBF), SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY)

SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:SFTBF) (OTC:SFTBY) said Monday it has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc. (NYSE:DBRG) in a cash deal valued at about $4 billion, marking a significant step in its push to scale global infrastructure for artificial intelligence. Under the definitive agreement, SoftBank will acquire all outstanding shares of DigitalBridge for $16.00 per share in cash. The transaction gives DigitalBridge an enterprise value of approximately $4.0 billion. DigitalBridge is a global alternative asset manager focused on digital infrastructure, including data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure. Also Read: DigitalBridge Smashes 52-Week High On SoftBank Takeover Buzz Strategic Rationale SoftBank stated that the acquisition supports its long-term mission to advance Artificial Super Intelligence, or ASI, by strengthening the physical infrastructure required to train and deploy AI models at scale. "As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure," said Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp. "DigitalBridge is a leader in digital infrastructure, and this acquisition will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers." DigitalBridge CEO Marc Ganzi said the deal aligns the company with a long-term investor that shares its focus on building and scaling critical digital assets. "Their vision, capital strength, and global network will allow us to accelerate our mission," Ganzi said. Transaction Details The offer represents a 15% premium to DigitalBridge's closing price on Dec. 26, 2025, and a 50% premium to its unaffected 52-week average closing price as of Dec. 4, 2025. DigitalBridge's board unanimously approved the transaction following a recommendation from a special committee of independent directors. What's Next Following its expected closing in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals, DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform led by Ganzi. SoftBank stated that the deal will enhance its ability to finance and scale AI-focused digital infrastructure globally. DBRG Price Action: DigitalBridge shares were up 9.77% at $15.28 at the time of publication on Monday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $15.55, according to Benzinga Pro data. Read Next: Palantir's AI Story Hooks Retail Investors, Stock Explodes 157% Image via Shutterstock DBRGDigitalBridge Group Inc$15.299.81%OverviewSFTBFSoftBank Group Corp$28.08-75.3%SFTBYSoftBank Group Corp$57.100.60%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

SoftBank to buy DigitalBridge in US$4 billion deal to bolster AI infrastructure push

SoftBank Group will acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a deal valued at US$4 billion, the companies said on Monday, as the Japanese investment firm looks to deepen its AI-related portfolio. The acquisition would expand SoftBank's exposure to digital infrastructure as the Japanese conglomerate is positioning its portfolio to focus on artificial intelligence. DigitalBridge shares rose about 10 per cent to $15.27 in premarket trading, following a 45 per cent rise earlier this month after Bloomberg News first reported the acquisition talks. The $16 per share offer represents a 15 per cent premium over DigitalBridge's closing price on Friday and values the company at $2.92 billion, with the deal expected to close in the second half of next year. SoftBank's billionaire founder Masayoshi Son is seeking to capitalize on surging demand for the computing capacity that underpins artificial intelligence applications. DigitalBridge invests in digital infrastructure sectors such as data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, small-cell systems and edge infrastructure, with a portfolio including companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch and AtlasEdge. Founded in 1991 as real estate-focused Colony Capital, the firm pivoted under CEO Marc Ganzi into digital infrastructure and rebranded as DigitalBridge in 2021 after shedding most of its legacy property assets. Ganzi will continue leading DigitalBridge as a separately managed platform, the companies said. As of Sept. 30, DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets, making it one of the largest dedicated investors in the digital ecosystem. SoftBank has ramped up investment in AI as it seeks to position itself at the center of what Masayoshi Son has called a once-in-a-generation technological shift. The company, along with OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based tech investor MGX, is investing billions of dollars in the Stargate project, a large-scale computing and infrastructure initiative aimed at supporting advanced AI development. OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank said in September they plan to build five new computing sites across Texas, New Mexico and Ohio, which are expected to have a combined power capacity of about seven gigawatts when in operation.

SoftBank Group to Buy Data Center Investment Firm DigitalBridge for $4 Billion -- Update

SoftBank Group agreed to buy DigitalBridge Group for $4 billion, including debt, part of the Japanese conglomerate's strategy to take advantage of an AI-driven boom in digital infrastructure. Under the terms of the deal, SoftBank will purchase all of DigitalBridge's outstanding shares for $16 apiece. The price represents a 15% premium to DigitalBridge's closing share price Friday, and a 50% premium to its unaffected 52-week average closing price as of Dec. 4, the companies said Monday. Shares of DigitalBridge jumped 9.8%, to $15.28, in premarket trading Monday. Through Friday's close, the stock is up almost 25% over the past year. SoftBank said the buy will strengthen its ability to build, scale and finance the foundational infrastructure needed for next-generation AI services and applications, advancing its mission to become a leading artificial super intelligence provider. Bloomberg reported earlier Monday that the companies were nearing a deal. Based in Boca Raton, Fla., DigitalBridge is an asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure including data centers, cell towers, fiber networks and edge infrastructure. After the deal closes, expected in the second half of 2026, DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform, led by Marc Ganzi, the companies said. Ganzi said SoftBank shares DigitalBridge's mission. "Their vision, capital strength and global network will allow us to accelerate our mission with greater flexibility, invest with a longer-term horizon on behalf of our investors, and better serve the world's leading technology companies as they scale their AI ambitions," he said.