SoftBank Buys DigitalBridge for $4B to Accelerate Its AI Infrastructure

On December 29, 2025, SoftBank Group Corporation entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group, Inc., an alternative asset manager specializing in digital infrastructure—data centers, fiber networks, cell towers, and edge infrastructure—for approximately US$4.0 billion. [5][4] The transaction is structured as an all-cash purchase at US$16.00 per share, reflecting a premium of about 15% on recent share price and ≈50% above DigitalBridge’s 52-week average as of early December. [5] DigitalBridge manages roughly US$108 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of September 30, 2025. [5][3]

Strategically, this acquisition deepens SoftBank’s AI infrastructure footprint. It aims to complement its investments in AI compute and its broader “Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)” agenda. [5][1][4] DigitalBridge’s expansive portfolio provides SoftBank with critical infrastructure—including data centers, connectivity, power, and edge capacity—that are essential components for training, deployment, and scaling of AI models. [5][4] The acquisition also reinforces SoftBank’s engagement with large-scale AI infrastructure initiatives, such as Stargate (with OpenAI, Oracle, etc.). [3][4]

From a financial perspective, SoftBank’s willingness to pay a sizable premium signals urgency in securing infrastructure assets. The valuation exceeds DigitalBridge’s market cap prior to confirmation of the deal by a large margin. [2][4] Operationally, allowing DigitalBridge to continue as a separately managed entity under current leadership alleviates integration risks and preserves managerial incentives. [5][1] Still, regulatory risk looms large given the cross-border dimensions of infrastructure ownership, U.S. national security interests in data centers and connectivity, and ongoing political scrutiny of AI infrastructure. Closing in the second half of 2026 leaves time but also exposure to economic cycles, inflation, interest rates, and potential shifts in demand for infrastructure.

Open questions include: how SoftBank plans to deploy DigitalBridge’s assets in new or expanded projects; whether the ASI vision will translate to concrete margins and returns in infrastructure versus pure AI model leadership; how competitive pressures from other infrastructure operators will affect acquisition synergies; and how regulatory conditions (both U.S. and international) might shape ownership, data security, and operational constraints.