$4B DigitalBridge Acquisition Positions SoftBank as AI Infrastructure Leader

A $4 billion acquisition of DigitalBridge Group positions SoftBank Group as a leading investor in artificial intelligence infrastructure, both companies announced. The transaction is central to founder Masayoshi Son’s vision of establishing SoftBank at the heart of the AI technological revolution.
Through this deal, SoftBank gains significantly expanded exposure to digital infrastructure, which provides the foundational capabilities required for AI applications to operate at scale. Son has been vocal about positioning SoftBank to capitalize on artificial intelligence, viewing it as the most important technological shift in a generation. The surging demand for computing resources to power AI systems has created substantial opportunities in infrastructure, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio comprehensively captures.
DigitalBridge’s investment portfolio covers critical digital infrastructure categories including datacenter facilities, telecommunications tower networks, fiber optic systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing platforms. Holdings include recognized companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. The firm’s evolution from its 1991 founding as real estate investor Colony Capital to its current incarnation occurred under CEO Marc Ganzi, who orchestrated the complete exit from traditional property holdings and the 2021 rebrand.
Marc Ganzi will continue serving as CEO following the acquisition, with DigitalBridge maintaining operational independence as a separately managed platform. The financial scope is noteworthy: DigitalBridge managed roughly $108 billion in assets as of the end of September, establishing it as among the largest institutional investors focused exclusively on digital infrastructure. This gives SoftBank immediate access to substantial assets and industry expertise.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure investments extend beyond this transaction. The company is a principal backer of the Stargate project alongside OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. This collaborative venture involves multi-billion-dollar investments in large-scale computing infrastructure specifically designed for advanced AI development. Plans include five computing centers in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio with approximately 7 gigawatts of total power capacity.