SoftBank to Acquire DigitalBridge for $4 Billion, Seizing Control of the AI Physical Backbone

Masayoshi Son has officially moved from funding AI software to owning the ground it runs on. In a definitive agreement announced late Monday, SoftBank Group confirmed it will acquire global digital infrastructure giant DigitalBridge (DBRG) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4 billion.

The deal, which offers DigitalBridge shareholders $16.00 per share (a 15% premium over its post-holiday closing price), marks SoftBank’s most aggressive step yet into the "heavy industry" phase of the artificial intelligence boom. By purchasing DigitalBridge, SoftBank gains control over a sprawling empire of data centers, fiber networks, and cell towers that are critical to the deployment of Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI).

The Deal at a Glance
The Price: SoftBank will pay $16 per share, valuing the company’s equity at just under $3 billion and the total enterprise value at roughly $4 billion.

The Assets: While the price tag is modest compared to recent tech valuations, the leverage is massive. DigitalBridge manages over $108 billion in assets, including stakes in premier data center operators like Vantage Data Centers, Switch, and DataBank, as well as fiber heavyweight Zayo.

The Structure: DigitalBridge will go private but continue to operate as an independent platform. CEO Marc Ganzi, a highly respected figure in the telecom sector, will remain at the helm.

Why Masayoshi Son Did It
This acquisition signals a fundamental pivot in SoftBank's "Vision Fund" strategy. After years of betting on volatile startups, Son is now locking down the scarce physical resources—power, land, and cooling—that limit AI growth.

"As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure," Son said in a statement released Tuesday morning in Tokyo. "DigitalBridge is a leader in digital infrastructure, and this acquisition will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers."

Analysts describe the move as a "bottleneck play." With power grids strained and data center vacancy rates near zero in major hubs like Northern Virginia, owning the developer (DigitalBridge) gives SoftBank priority access to future capacity for its portfolio companies.

The "ASI" Endgame
The deal is explicitly tied to Son’s pursuit of "Artificial Super Intelligence" (ASI). SoftBank has recently shifted its focus to building a "sovereign" AI supply chain, which includes its own chip ventures (Project Izanagi) and massive renewable energy projects.

"This is the final piece of the puzzle," noted a telecom analyst at New Street Research. "SoftBank now has the chips (Arm), the funding (Vision Fund), and now the real estate (DigitalBridge). They are building a vertically integrated AI utility."

Market Reaction
Shares of DigitalBridge (DBRG) surged nearly 10% in pre-market trading Tuesday, hovering just below the offer price. The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals which, given DigitalBridge’s ownership of critical U.S. communications infrastructure, may face scrutiny from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).