SoftBank Completes $3.1bn DigitalBridge Acquisition: What Changes
The infrastructure investor is now a SoftBank subsidiary. The deal puts data centres, fibre and mobile-network assets closer to SoftBank’s AI strategy.
SoftBank completed its acquisition of DigitalBridge on 30 September 2026, buying its outstanding common stock for approximately $3.1bn. DigitalBridge is now a controlled subsidiary of SoftBank Group and will continue as a separately managed investment platform led by Marc Ganzi.
The deal was first agreed in December 2025. Its completion is a corporate ownership change, not the launch of a new broadband service or an immediate change to a UK customer’s package.
What has SoftBank actually acquired?
DigitalBridge is an alternative asset manager focused on digital infrastructure. Its investments span data centres, mobile towers, fibre networks, small cells and edge facilities. SoftBank has acquired control of the management company, which gives it an established platform for investing in and financing those sectors.
That distinction matters: DigitalBridge manages assets for investors and has interests in portfolio businesses. Buying DigitalBridge does not mean SoftBank directly owns every tower, fibre route or data centre across the funds it manages.
SoftBank Group, through its acquisition structure. DigitalBridge’s results are consolidated from the acquisition date.
Marc Ganzi remains in charge, with DigitalBridge operating as a separately managed business.
Managed funds and investments across digital infrastructure, subject to their own ownership arrangements and co-investors.
Why was the deal previously called $4bn?
SoftBank and DigitalBridge described the agreement announced in December 2025 as a transaction worth approximately $4bn. That was the broader enterprise-value headline, which takes account of debt. The September 2026 closing announcement puts the acquisition of DigitalBridge’s outstanding common stock at approximately $3.1bn. These figures describe different measures of the same transaction.
The cash consideration for common shareholders was $16 per share, as the companies originally agreed. DigitalBridge’s US filing confirms that its common shares were removed from New York Stock Exchange trading on the closing date.
$3.1bn is the figure in the closing statement for the common-stock acquisition. About $4bn was the original enterprise-value description. Neither is the value of all infrastructure assets managed by DigitalBridge.
Agreement announced
SoftBank agrees to buy DigitalBridge for $16 per common share in cash.
Approvals secured
DigitalBridge says the required regulatory approvals have been received.
Transaction closes
DigitalBridge becomes a controlled SoftBank subsidiary.
What could this mean for fibre and mobile networks?
SoftBank said when it announced the deal that it wanted more capacity to build and finance the physical infrastructure behind AI. Data centres need power and computing equipment, but they also need high-capacity fibre connections between sites and to the wider internet. Some large organisations use dark fibre to control dedicated links. Mobile towers and small cells are another part of DigitalBridge’s investment remit.
DigitalBridge brings sector expertise and an investment platform. SoftBank brings a larger parent group and an AI infrastructure strategy. Their future spending priorities may influence which projects receive capital, but the closing announcement does not set a new UK fibre-build target or announce changes to any specific retail ISP.
The demand for routes between computing sites is already visible in other transactions, such as the Verizon–Google dark fibre agreement. That is a separate deal, but it helps explain why investors value the connectivity around data centres.
The short view
SoftBank’s DigitalBridge purchase is complete. The $3.1bn closing figure concerns the common-stock acquisition; the earlier $4bn headline used enterprise value. DigitalBridge remains separately managed, and the immediate effect for UK broadband customers is limited. The longer-term story is where its infrastructure capital goes next.
DigitalBridge acquisition FAQs
Has SoftBank completed its DigitalBridge acquisition?
Yes. SoftBank says the acquisition closed on 30 September 2026 in the United States. DigitalBridge is now a controlled subsidiary of SoftBank Group.
Did SoftBank pay $3.1bn or $4bn for DigitalBridge?
SoftBank’s closing announcement gives approximately $3.1bn for the acquisition of outstanding common stock. The approximately $4bn figure used when the deal was announced referred to enterprise value, which includes debt.
Who runs DigitalBridge after the takeover?
Marc Ganzi continues to lead DigitalBridge. SoftBank says it will operate as a separately managed platform within the group.
Will this change UK broadband services now?
No immediate UK retail broadband change was announced as part of the closing. Future investment decisions could affect infrastructure over time, but no specific new UK rollout was confirmed.
Broadband and telecoms writer