SoftBank Group Corp. has agreed to purchase DigitalBridge Group, Inc. for an enterprise value of approximately $4 billion, paying $16 in cash per share. The offer represents a 15% premium to DigitalBridge’s closing price on December 26, 2025, and a 50% premium to the 52‑week average closing price as of December 4. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
The deal is part of SoftBank’s broader push into AI‑driven digital infrastructure. Masayoshi Son said the acquisition would “strengthen the foundation for next‑generation AI data centers” and help the group become a leading ASI platform provider. DigitalBridge CEO Marc Ganzi echoed this view, noting that SoftBank’s capital strength and global network will accelerate DigitalBridge’s mission to build and finance data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure for AI workloads.
DigitalBridge’s recent financial performance shows a mixed picture. In 2024, revenue fell 26.61% and earnings dropped 90.70% year‑over‑year, reflecting a challenging environment for infrastructure assets. In Q3 2025, revenue declined 95% YoY to $3.82 million and GAAP EPS was $0.09, missing analyst expectations. Nevertheless, the company’s fee‑earning assets under management rose 19% to $40.7 billion, and it raised $1.6 billion in new capital during the quarter, underscoring a resilient asset base.
SoftBank’s own financials provide a strong backdrop for the purchase. The group reported a record net income of JPY 2.9 trillion for the first half of fiscal year 2025, and net profit of ¥2.5 trillion (≈$16.5 billion) in the second quarter of the same fiscal year. These results demonstrate ample cash flow and a robust balance sheet, enabling SoftBank to fund the acquisition while maintaining its investment momentum.
Analysts had set a consensus price target for DigitalBridge in the range of $17.83 to $17.93, implying a 17–18% upside over the acquisition price. The $16 per share offer, while below the target, still represents a significant premium to the December 26 close and signals a favorable deal for shareholders, while aligning with SoftBank’s valuation framework for strategic assets in the AI infrastructure space.
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