SoftBank Accelerates AI Strategy With $4 Billion Acquisition of DigitalBridge
Tokyo, Tuesday, 30 December 2025.
SoftBank pivots to physical infrastructure by acquiring DigitalBridge for $4 billion, securing vital data centers needed to power Masayoshi Son’s ambitious vision of Artificial Super Intelligence.
Strategic Pivot to Physical Assets
SoftBank Group officially announced on Monday, December 29, 2025, that it has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group (DBRG) in an all-cash transaction valued at $4 billion [1][2][5]. The deal, unanimously approved by a special committee of DigitalBridge’s board, values the digital infrastructure firm at $16.00 per share [1]. This offer price represents a premium of 15% over the company’s closing share price on December 26 [1]. By taking DigitalBridge private, SoftBank is securing direct control over a vast portfolio of data centers and digital assets essential for the high-performance computing required by modern artificial intelligence [1][3].
Building the Foundation for ‘Artificial Super Intelligence’
The acquisition is a cornerstone of CEO Masayoshi Son’s vision to establish a dominant platform for “Artificial Super Intelligence” (ASI) [1][5]. Moving beyond software investments, SoftBank is now targeting the physical layer of the AI stack. Son emphasized that as AI transforms global industries, the demand for scalable infrastructure, connectivity, and power is becoming the critical bottleneck to progress [1]. DigitalBridge, which managed approximately $108 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, provides precisely this backbone, with a portfolio heavily weighted toward data centers, fiber networks, and telecommunications towers [1][2][5].
Market Reaction and Deal Economics
Following the announcement, shares of DigitalBridge rallied, jumping approximately 10% in early trading on Monday [1][5]. The market response reflects the growing valuation of infrastructure assets capable of supporting the power-hungry demands of generative AI. Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, described the current buildout of AI infrastructure as one of the most significant investment opportunities of this generation [1]. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions [2].
Funding the AI Infrastructure Boom
To finance this aggressive expansion into physical infrastructure, SoftBank has been actively reallocating capital from its equity holdings. The conglomerate recently liquidated its entire stake in U.S. chipmaker Nvidia for $5.83 billion, freeing up liquidity to invest directly in AI development and infrastructure [1]. This capital recycling strategy also supports SoftBank’s broader ecosystem plays, including a partnership with OpenAI and Oracle on “Stargate,” a proposed $500 billion infrastructure project designed to build massive computing sites across the United States [2][4][5].