Key Takeaways
- • SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group in a definitive agreement valued at $4 billion, including debt assumption, to expand its digital infrastructure and AI data center capabilities.
- • The acquisition positions SoftBank to capitalize on the AI-driven infrastructure boom, aligning with CEO Masayoshi Son's stated strategy to become a leading artificial superintelligence (ASI) platform provider through scaled compute, connectivity, and power infrastructure.
- • DigitalBridge, based in Boca Raton, Florida, brings established expertise as a leader in digital infrastructure investment and development, with DigitalBridge CEO Marc Ganzi emphasizing the combined entity's ability to accelerate infrastructure buildout with greater capital flexibility and long-term investment horizon.
- • The transaction reflects institutional investor appetite for infrastructure assets supporting AI scaling, positioning both parties to address what industry participants characterize as "one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation."
Summary
SoftBank Group Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group for $4 billion, marking a significant consolidation in the digital infrastructure sector at a critical moment for AI-driven capital deployment. The transaction, announced on December 29, 2025, combines SoftBank's capital strength and global network with DigitalBridge's established position as a digital infrastructure investor and operator.
The strategic rationale centers on infrastructure scaling for artificial intelligence. Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's chairman and CEO, framed the acquisition within the broader context of AI adoption, stating: "As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure. 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." This positioning reflects SoftBank's commitment to investing across the infrastructure stack required to support enterprise and consumer AI deployment globally.
DigitalBridge's leadership welcomed the combination. Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, characterized the AI infrastructure buildout as "one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation" and highlighted alignment between the companies' philosophies: "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" outlook. The transaction structure provides DigitalBridge shareholders with transaction certainty while integrating the firm into SoftBank's broader infrastructure and AI investment portfolio.
The deal values DigitalBridge's strategic importance in an increasingly competitive landscape for infrastructure assets supporting generative AI workloads, data center expansion, and connectivity requirements. For hedge funds and institutional investors, the transaction signals SoftBank's continued conviction in long-duration infrastructure returns and its willingness to deploy substantial capital to secure platform-scale positions in sectors deemed critical to AI scaling.
The strategic rationale centers on infrastructure scaling for artificial intelligence. Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's chairman and CEO, framed the acquisition within the broader context of AI adoption, stating: "As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure. 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." This positioning reflects SoftBank's commitment to investing across the infrastructure stack required to support enterprise and consumer AI deployment globally.
DigitalBridge's leadership welcomed the combination. Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, characterized the AI infrastructure buildout as "one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation" and highlighted alignment between the companies' philosophies: "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" outlook. The transaction structure provides DigitalBridge shareholders with transaction certainty while integrating the firm into SoftBank's broader infrastructure and AI investment portfolio.
The deal values DigitalBridge's strategic importance in an increasingly competitive landscape for infrastructure assets supporting generative AI workloads, data center expansion, and connectivity requirements. For hedge funds and institutional investors, the transaction signals SoftBank's continued conviction in long-duration infrastructure returns and its willingness to deploy substantial capital to secure platform-scale positions in sectors deemed critical to AI scaling.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.