In a $4 billion transaction, SoftBank Group is acquiring digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group as part of its strategic focus on artificial intelligence infrastructure. The deal, confirmed by both organizations, adds significant infrastructure assets to SoftBank’s growing AI-focused portfolio under founder Masayoshi Son’s direction.
This acquisition provides SoftBank with expanded exposure to the digital infrastructure sector, which delivers the essential computing, networking, and storage capabilities that AI systems depend on. Son has been explicit about positioning SoftBank to capitalize on artificial intelligence, viewing it as a transformational technology that emerges once in a generation. The massive increase in demand for computing power to support AI applications has created substantial investment opportunities that DigitalBridge’s portfolio addresses.
DigitalBridge invests across the digital infrastructure landscape including datacenters, cell tower networks, fiber systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing facilities. The firm’s portfolio encompasses notable companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Beginning as Colony Capital in 1991 as a real estate investment firm, the company transformed under CEO Marc Ganzi’s leadership, divesting traditional property holdings and rebranding as DigitalBridge in 2021 to reflect its digital infrastructure focus.
The transaction structure preserves DigitalBridge’s operational independence, with Ganzi continuing as CEO and the platform operating separately within SoftBank. The magnitude of the acquisition is significant: DigitalBridge had approximately $108 billion in assets under management at the end of September, making it one of the largest institutional investors focused exclusively on digital infrastructure. This gives SoftBank immediate scale and specialized expertise.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure investments extend beyond this acquisition. The company is a key participant in the Stargate project alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. This collaborative effort involves billions of dollars in investments to build large-scale computing infrastructure specifically designed for advanced AI development. Plans include five computing centers in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with a combined power capacity of about 7 gigawatts.
