Today, SoftBank Group Corp., Japan’s tech giant, announced it has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge Group, Inc., for an enterprise value of around $4.0 billion.
DigitalBridge Group, Inc. is a prominent global alternative asset manager with approximately $108 billion in assets under management, focusing on digital infrastructure investments such as data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure.
The agreement, unanimously approved by DigitalBridge’s Board of Directors, will involve SoftBank buying all the outstanding common stock of DigitalBridge for $16 per share in cash, representing a 15% premium to DigitalBridge’s closing share price on Dec. 26.
According to SoftBank, the planned acquisition of DigitalBridge will strengthen SoftBank Group’s ability to build, scale, and finance the foundational infrastructure needed for next-generation AI services and applications.
Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group Corp, told investors, “As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure. DigitalBridge is a leader in digital infrastructure, and this acquisition will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers, advance our vision to become a leading ASI platform provider, and help unlock breakthroughs that move humanity forward.”
Marc Ganzi, Chief Executive Officer of DigitalBridge, stated, “The buildout of AI infrastructure represents one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation. SoftBank shares our DNA as builders and long-term investors committed to 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.”
SoftBank recently sold its entire stake in U.S. chipmaker Nvidia for $5.83 billion to free up resources for its investment in OpenAI.
Following the announcement, shares of DigitalBridge rose 10% higher in premarket trading.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
