SoftBank Group to Buy Data Center Investment Firm DigitalBridge
By Connor Hart
SoftBank Group agreed to buy all outstanding shares of DigitalBridge Group for $16 apiece, part of the Japanese conglomerate's strategy to take advantage of an AI-driven boom in digital infrastructure.
The price represents a 15% premium to DigitalBridge's closing share price Friday, and a 50% premium to its unaffected 52-week average closing price as of Dec. 4, the companies said Monday. Including debt, the deal is valued at about $4 billion.
Shares of DigitalBridge jumped 10%, to $15.32, in premarket trading Monday. Through Friday's close, the stock is up almost 25% over the past year.
SoftBank said the buy will strengthen its ability to build, scale and finance the foundational infrastructure needed for next-generation AI services and applications, advancing its mission to become a leading artificial super intelligence provider.
Bloomberg reported earlier Monday that the companies were nearing a deal.
Based in Boca Raton, Fla., DigitalBridge is an asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure including data centers, cell towers, fiber networks and edge infrastructure.
After the deal closes, expected in the second half of 2026, DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform, led by Marc Ganzi, the companies said.
Ganzi said SoftBank shares DigitalBridge's mission of 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 horizon on behalf of our investors, and better serve the world's leading technology companies as they scale their AI ambitions," he said.
Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 29, 2025 09:15 ET (14:15 GMT)
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