In a transaction valued at $4 billion, SoftBank Group is acquiring digital infrastructure specialist DigitalBridge Group, further cementing the Japanese conglomerate’s position as a major force in artificial intelligence infrastructure investment. The deal represents another chapter in founder Masayoshi Son’s campaign to place SoftBank at the epicenter of the AI revolution.
The acquisition dramatically increases SoftBank’s involvement in digital infrastructure, the essential physical layer that supports artificial intelligence technologies. Son has repeatedly characterized AI as a transformational technological shift that occurs once in a generation, and he’s been systematically deploying capital to ensure SoftBank participates in the enormous value creation opportunity. Acquiring DigitalBridge provides instant scale in infrastructure sectors experiencing explosive growth due to AI demand.
DigitalBridge has assembled a diversified portfolio of digital infrastructure investments covering datacenters, telecommunications towers, fiber cable networks, small-cell systems, and edge infrastructure. Key holdings include companies like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. The firm’s transformation from its 1991 origins as real estate investor Colony Capital to today’s digital infrastructure specialist occurred under CEO Marc Ganzi, who orchestrated the sale of traditional property holdings and the 2021 rebrand to DigitalBridge.
Following the acquisition, Ganzi will retain his position as CEO with DigitalBridge operating as a discrete platform within SoftBank’s corporate structure. The magnitude of the acquired business is substantial: DigitalBridge had approximately $108 billion in assets under management at the end of September, making it one of the preeminent dedicated investors in digital infrastructure globally. This established platform gives SoftBank immediate credibility and relationships throughout the sector.
SoftBank’s commitment to AI infrastructure is evident across its portfolio. The company is a principal backer of the Stargate project, a consortium that also includes OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX investment firm. Stargate entails multi-billion-dollar investments in large-scale computing and infrastructure capabilities designed explicitly to support cutting-edge AI development. Announced plans include building five computing sites in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with a combined power generation capacity of approximately 7 gigawatts.