DigitalBridge Group, Inc. shareholders voted to approve SoftBank Group Corp.’s $4 billion acquisition, with a $16.00 cash per share payout. The vote, held on April 23, 2026, gave SoftBank a 96% approval rate, clearing the final hurdle before regulatory clearance and closing later in 2026.
The transaction values DigitalBridge at roughly $4 billion, representing a 15% premium to the company’s closing share price on December 26, 2025, and a 50% premium to its 52‑week average as of December 4. The deal follows SoftBank’s December 29, 2025 announcement and aligns with the group’s strategy to build a global AI‑enabled data‑center platform.
Under the terms, DigitalBridge will continue operating as a separately managed platform led by CEO Marc Ganzi, preserving its global footprint and investment expertise. SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son highlighted the acquisition as a key step toward creating a “leading ASI platform provider,” emphasizing the role of physical infrastructure in powering AI growth.
The approval comes after DigitalBridge posted strong earnings in the fourth quarter of 2025, reporting an EPS of $0.21 versus analyst estimates of $0.05, and a Q1 2025 EPS of $0.29 beating expectations of $-0.004. Fee‑related earnings rose 80% YoY, and fee revenue increased 24% YoY, underscoring the company’s ability to generate high‑margin returns from its data‑center, fiber, and cell‑tower assets.
The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. SoftBank’s acquisition strategy, including investments in AI infrastructure and projects like Project Stargate, positions the combined entity to accelerate deployment of hyperscale data centers and advanced compute platforms for AI workloads.
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