In a major strategic move to dominate the infrastructure fueling the artificial intelligence revolution, Japan's SoftBank Group Corp. has struck a deal to acquire private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc. for approximately US$3 billion in cash. The transaction, confirmed on Monday, December 29, 2025, underscores the intense global race to secure digital assets critical for AI development.
A Premium Bet on the AI Boom
The agreement will see SoftBank pay US$16 per share for the New York-listed DigitalBridge. This offer represents a substantial 65% premium over DigitalBridge's closing share price on December 4, the last trading day before news of the negotiations broke. The total enterprise value of the deal, including debt, reaches about US$4 billion. Following the announcement, DigitalBridge's stock surged, climbing 9.7% to US$15.27 in New York trading.
This acquisition is a cornerstone of SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son's ambitious plan to capitalize on the exploding demand for digital infrastructure. The past year has witnessed a frenzy of multibillion-dollar deals in the sector, focused primarily on data centres and the immense computing power required to build and run advanced AI systems.
Expanding a Digital Empire
DigitalBridge is not a small player. It is one of the world's largest investment firms specializing in digital infrastructure, boasting approximately US$108 billion in assets under management as of the end of September. The firm, led by CEO Marc Ganzi, manages a formidable portfolio that includes major operators like DataBank, Vantage Data Centers, Switch Inc., AtlasEdge, AIMS, and Yondr Group.
For SoftBank, the purchase delivers more than just physical assets. It provides immediate access to DigitalBridge's extensive network of institutional investors who are eager to deploy capital into the red-hot data centre industry. This deal follows SoftBank's earlier foray into asset management with its 2017 acquisition of Fortress Investment Group, a stake it later sold.
Strategic Context and Future Plans
The DigitalBridge acquisition fits into a broader pattern of massive infrastructure investments. Recent landmark deals include BlackRock's US$40 billion purchase of Aligned Data Centers and a monumental agreement between Oracle Corp. and OpenAI to supply up to 4.5 gigawatts of computing power, a deal potentially worth US$300 billion.
SoftBank itself is no stranger to grand infrastructure visions. In January, it announced the US$500 billion "Stargate" project alongside partners OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi's MGX, aimed at constructing a new generation of data centres in the United States. While Son pledged an immediate US$100 billion for the project, its rollout has faced delays, partly due to disagreements over site locations.
Interestingly, SoftBank has also been separately discussing a potential acquisition of Switch, a major data centre operator in DigitalBridge's portfolio, with its owners seeking a valuation near US$50 billion including debt.
The DigitalBridge transaction is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2026, pending the necessary regulatory approvals. This deal marks a significant pivot for SoftBank, known for bets on companies like Alibaba and Arm, as it now places a colossal wager on the physical backbone of the AI era.
