SoftBank to Acquire DigitalBridge for $4B to Power Its AI Infrastructure Ambitions

The acquisition of DigitalBridge by SoftBank reflects several strategic dimensions that are critical for understanding the evolving AI infrastructure landscape and SoftBank’s positioning within it.

Valuation and Deal Metrics
SoftBank’s offer of $16 per share represents a meaningful premium over both recent market valuations and the longer-term trading average. The ~15% premium to the December 26 close suggests immediate upside for shareholders above the market price preceding the announcement. More striking is the ~50% premium to the unaffected 52-week average as of December 4, hinting that much of the recent downside may have been tied to uncertainty around take-over discussions rather than any structural decline in DigitalBridge’s value. The transaction value, including debt, places enterprise value at $4.0B. [1][2][4][6]

Strategic Rationale for SoftBank
SoftBank’s acquisition is driven by the escalating need for physical infrastructure to support next-generation AI workloads. Data centers, edge infrastructure, fiber networks, and connectivity are increasingly viewed not just as complementary assets but as foundational components of AI deployment. By bringing DigitalBridge into its fold, SoftBank secures a global platform capable of delivering compute, connectivity, and power at scale. This bolsters its broader AI and “Artificial Super Intelligence” ambitions, including projects like Stargate with OpenAI and Oracle. [2][4][6]

Operational Continuity and Integration Risk
DigitalBridge will continue operating as a separately managed platform, under CEO Marc Ganzi, which preserves incumbent management and existing investment strategies. While this limits integration disruption, challenges will arise around aligning governance, incentive structures, and competitive positioning. Also important: regulatory approvals, debt obligations, and stakeholder (including LP) reactions pose material execution risks. The timeline into H2 2026 introduces exposure to macroeconomic changes and policy developments in AI regulation and infrastructure investment.

Implications for Industry & Competition
This transaction further accelerates consolidation in the digital infrastructure sector, particularly among firms combining data centers, network connectivity, and edge resources. SoftBank’s move signals that infrastructure investors expect AI demand to remain front and center. Competitors in hyperscale cloud, colocation, telecom infrastructure, and private equity will likely feel pressure — both to scale and to vertically integrate. For customers (AI companies, cloud providers), this suggests smoother access to integrated infrastructure but also potential concentration risk.

Open Questions

• How will antitrust and foreign investment regulatory authorities in the U.S., EU, and other jurisdictions respond, especially given the global footprint of DigitalBridge?
• What leverage will SoftBank have over DigitalBridge’s limited partners — will the buy-out create tension around performance fees or capital deployment strategies?
• Can SoftBank deliver on the required capital expenditure commitments (power, cooling, networking) needed to stay ahead in infrastructure arms race?
• How will this affect SoftBank’s balance sheet and capital allocation, especially given its recent asset sales (e.g., Nvidia stake)? How will it fund this deal and absorb DigitalBridge’s debt?