4 billion US dollars, 15% premium! Masayoshi Son acquires US data center operator DigitalBridge, founded by Trump ally

DigitalBridge manages assets worth over $100 billion, including data centers, cellular communication towers, and fiber-optic cable networks. Masayoshi Son stated that this acquisition will "strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers".

SoftBank is accelerating the construction of its global artificial intelligence infrastructure network, with its latest move being a multibillion-dollar acquisition of DigitalBridge, a U.S. digital infrastructure giant.

According to a report by the *Financial Times* on Tuesday, SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire DigitalBridge for approximately $4 billion in an all-cash deal priced at $16 per share, representing a 15% premium over Friday’s closing price. The enterprise value, including debt, stands at around $4 billion.

Masayoshi Son is fully betting that AI will completely transform businesses and society, as well as SoftBank’s growth prospects. This transaction is a key component of SoftBank’s AI infrastructure layout. DigitalBridge manages assets exceeding $100 billion, encompassing data centers, cellular towers, and fiber-optic networks. Son commented that the acquisition will "bolster the underpinnings of next-generation AI data centers".

Founded in 1991 by Tom Barrack, an early financial backer of Donald Trump, DigitalBridge was formerly known as Colony Capital. Barrack currently serves as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, and Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, will continue to lead the company as an "independent management platform".

SoftBank’s share price has nearly doubled so far this year but has dropped by one-third in the past two months, amid market concerns over an AI industry bubble and SoftBank’s ability to finance its massive investment in OpenAI.

# AI Infrastructure Race Intensifies

Masayoshi Son has positioned this acquisition as a core pillar of his "Artificial Superintelligence" strategy. He said, "As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more computing power, connectivity, electricity, and scalable infrastructure."

DigitalBridge’s asset portfolio is exactly what SoftBank needs. Its over $100 billion in managed assets cover critical AI-era infrastructure such as data centers, telecom towers, and fiber-optic networks. These assets will form synergies with SoftBank’s large-scale investment in OpenAI and its Stargate AI infrastructure project in partnership with database firm Oracle and others, which will provide computing power support for ChatGPT.

Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, remarked, "The building of AI infrastructure represents one of the most significant investment opportunities of our generation." A seasoned telecom dealmaker, Ganzi founded Global Tower Partners, a U.S. telecom infrastructure company that was sold for $4.8 billion in 2013.

# Digital Transformation of a Trump Ally

DigitalBridge has a close connection with U.S. politics. Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital by Tom Barrack, an early financial supporter of President Donald Trump, Barrack now holds the position of U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.

In 2019, Barrack spearheaded the $325 million acquisition of data center investor Digital Bridge. He stepped down as executive chairman in 2021, after which the company renamed itself DigitalBridge and shifted its focus from traditional real estate business to digital infrastructure investment.

Upon completion of the transaction, Ganzi will continue to lead DigitalBridge as an independent management platform. Subject to regulatory approvals, the deal is slated to close in the second half of 2026.

# Acquisition Spree Amid Financing Pressures

SoftBank’s share price has nearly doubled since 2025 but has fallen by a third in the past two months, due to market worries about an AI industry bubble and the company’s capacity to fund its huge investments. In early November this year, SoftBank sold its entire stake in AI chipmaker NVIDIA for $5.8 billion to finance mergers and acquisitions.

Yoshimitsu Goto, SoftBank’s Chief Financial Officer, stated last month that the group needs to "divest from its existing portfolio" to raise more than $30 billion for investments in OpenAI.

Yet this has not curbed Masayoshi Son’s acquisition pace. In October last year, SoftBank agreed to acquire ABB’s robotics division for $5.4 billion, and it is reportedly in talks to expand its investment in Wayve, a UK autonomous driving startup, according to the *Financial Times*. Son also agreed to invest $2 billion in Intel, a struggling Silicon Valley chipmaker, further demonstrating his alliance with Trump.

Large institutional investors have been focusing on building data center portfolios to capitalize on the AI boom. Many investors have ultimately opted to acquire specialized data center owners, as building such portfolios from scratch is highly challenging.

Private equity group Ares completed the acquisition of the international business of real estate developer GLP Capital Partners earlier this year. This trend reflects fierce competition for AI infrastructure assets in the market and a strategic preference for rapidly acquiring scaled assets through mergers and acquisitions.

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