“The development of AI infrastructure presents a substantial investment opportunity for our generation,” stated Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge. Ganzi emphasized the alignment of SoftBank’s vision, capital strength, and global network with their shared commitment to scaling transformative digital infrastructure. This strategic partnership will enable them to accelerate their mission, invest with a long-term perspective, and better support leading technology companies in their AI initiatives.”
SoftBank’s objective with this acquisition is to leverage data more effectively and expand next-generation AI services and applications on an international level.
DigitalBridge will continue to operate independently under the leadership of Marc Ganzi. The acquisition valued DigitalBridge at $16.00 per share, representing a 15% premium over its recent stock price.
The timeline for the completion of the deal, subject to regulatory approvals, is anticipated in the second half of 2026.
This acquisition underscores the growing emphasis on owning and expanding distributed digital infrastructure, including edge data centers, fiber, and towers. As AI inference, data sovereignty, and operational controls gain prominence over mere latency, the significance of these assets continues to rise.
By positioning DigitalBridge as an independent platform with long-term financial backing, SoftBank is sending a clear message about the critical role of edge infrastructure in scaling next-generation AI and potential Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) endeavors. This move is expected to drive further investments and consolidation within the edge ecosystem.