SoftBank Group is acquiring DigitalBridge Group in a transaction valued at $4 billion, marking a significant expansion of the Japanese conglomerate’s artificial intelligence infrastructure holdings. The deal was announced jointly and reflects founder Masayoshi Son’s vision of positioning SoftBank at the center of the AI technological revolution.
Through this acquisition, SoftBank gains enhanced exposure to digital infrastructure, which provides the critical physical and network foundation for AI applications. Son has been directing SoftBank’s investment strategy toward artificial intelligence, characterizing it as a once-in-a-generation technological shift. The explosive growth in demand for computing resources to power AI systems has created substantial opportunities in infrastructure, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio directly captures.
DigitalBridge focuses on digital infrastructure investments including datacenters, cell towers, fiber networks, small-cell systems, and edge infrastructure. The portfolio features industry-leading companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital with a traditional real estate focus, the firm underwent a complete transformation under CEO Marc Ganzi’s leadership, exiting legacy property investments and adopting the DigitalBridge brand in 2021.
Following the acquisition, Ganzi will continue as CEO with DigitalBridge maintaining operational independence as a separately managed platform. The financial scope is substantial: DigitalBridge managed approximately $108 billion in assets as of the end of September, positioning it among the largest dedicated digital infrastructure investors worldwide. This established platform gives SoftBank immediate scale and credibility in the sector.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy extends to other major projects. The company is a principal partner in the Stargate project, working alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, an Abu Dhabi-based technology investment firm. This initiative involves multi-billion-dollar investments in large-scale computing infrastructure designed specifically for advanced AI development. Plans include five new computing facilities in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with approximately 7 gigawatts of total power capacity.
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