On December 29, 2025, SoftBank Group and DigitalBridge said they signed a definitive agreement valuing the company at about $4.0 billion.
DigitalBridge acquisition is now SoftBank’s clearest bet that AI growth depends on physical infrastructure as much as chips. SoftBank will pay $16.00 per share in cash. DigitalBridge will keep operating as a separately managed platform led by CEO Marc Ganzi after closing. Source: DigitalBridge announcement
Deal snapshot and disclosed terms
The DigitalBridge acquisition is structured as an all-cash take-private transaction. The companies said SoftBank will “indirectly acquire all the outstanding common stock” for $16.00 per share. The boards approved the deal after review by a special committee of independent directors. The announcement also disclosed premiums of 15% to the December 26, 2025 close and 50% to an “unaffected” 52-week average close as of December 4, 2025. See the press release filed with the U.S. SEC as Exhibit 99.1: [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1679688/000110465925124541/tm2534410d1_ex99-1.htm.
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The) companies expect the DigitalBridge acquisition to close in the second half of 2026. They cited customary conditions, including regulatory approvals. The same SEC exhibit states DigitalBridge will remain led by Ganzi after closing. That “operate separately” promise matters for investors and limited partners who rely on continuity.
Key disclosed points from company materials:
Price: $16.00 per share, all cash.
Enterprise value: about $4.0 billion.
Governance: special committee recommendation and full board approval.
Timing: expected second half of 2026.
Why SoftBank wants this platform now
SoftBank framed the DigitalBridge acquisition as a move to scale “next-generation AI” capacity. Masayoshi Son said AI needs “more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure.” He also said the deal will “strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers.” Those lines appear in the companies’ joint announcement and SEC filing.
DigitalBridge brings a large footprint in the “picks and shovels” layer. The company says it invests across data centers, towers, fiber, and edge infrastructure. It also says it manages $108 billion of infrastructure assets. SoftBank is buying a platform that already sources projects, raises capital, and operates networks at scale. That can shorten the time from AI demand to physical buildout.
The DigitalBridge acquisition also fits SoftBank’s public push into large AI data-center programs. In September 2025, SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle described “Stargate” as an AI infrastructure platform with gigawatt-scale capacity plans. SoftBank’s release cited nearly 7 gigawatts of planned capacity at that stage.
Market impact: competition shifts to power and sites
The DigitalBridge acquisition highlights a change in what investors bid up. For much of the cycle, the tightest supply was advanced GPUs. That constraint remains real. Yet grid interconnection, power contracts, and permitted land now set the pace for many large deployments.
This matters for valuation and strategy. Infrastructure funds often compete on cost of capital and operating expertise. Hyperscalers compete on scale, offtake certainty, and supplier leverage. A strategic buyer like SoftBank can blend both approaches. It can use its capital base, and it can lean on a dedicated infrastructure manager.
The DigitalBridge acquisition may also influence how projects get financed. Data centers and fiber networks sit at the intersection of real assets and technology risk. AI workloads increase utilization potential, but they also increase power exposure and build complexity. The more AI-driven the load, the more buyers focus on energy procurement terms and resiliency.
What filings reveal about process and oversight
U.S. filings add detail on the DigitalBridge acquisition process. DigitalBridge filed a Form 8-K describing the merger agreement parties, including a parent entity and merger subsidiaries. The filing identifies “Duncan Holdco LLC” as parent and describes the agreement date as December 29, 2025. Mechanics matter because they define voting steps, disclosures, and potential remedies. They also set the framework for regulatory review. Cross-border acquisitions of U.S. infrastructure assets often draw close attention, especially when networks and data facilities are involved.
What to watch next
Three near-term markers will shape the DigitalBridge acquisition timeline.
First, shareholder materials and any proxy disclosures will clarify conditions and deal protections. The SEC trail already signals a standard U.S. public-company process.
Second, regulators will review the DigitalBridge acquisition across relevant jurisdictions. The companies only said “regulatory approvals,” so investors should watch formal milestones rather than headlines.
Third, the buyer’s post-close operating plan will matter for customers and partners. Data-center expansion depends on long lead times. It also depends on stable counterparties.
If the DigitalBridge acquisition closes as planned, it will stand as a signal. The AI capex cycle is broadening from compute to the full stack: power, land, cooling, connectivity, and finance.