SoftBank Group is acquiring DigitalBridge Group in a deal worth $4 billion, both companies have confirmed, as the Japanese conglomerate continues building its portfolio of artificial intelligence infrastructure assets. The acquisition reinforces SoftBank’s commitment to positioning itself as a central player in the AI-driven technological transformation.
The transaction provides SoftBank with significantly expanded presence in digital infrastructure, which forms the essential foundation for AI applications and services. Billionaire founder Masayoshi Son has been orchestrating a strategic shift to focus SoftBank’s investments on artificial intelligence, recognizing the unprecedented demand for computing resources to power AI systems. DigitalBridge’s specialized expertise and asset portfolio align perfectly with this strategic direction.
DigitalBridge’s investment activities span critical digital infrastructure sectors including datacenter facilities, telecommunications tower networks, fiber optic cable systems, small-cell wireless infrastructure, and edge computing platforms. The firm’s portfolio encompasses industry-leading companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. The organization’s journey began in 1991 as Colony Capital, operating in traditional real estate sectors, before CEO Marc Ganzi led a comprehensive transformation into digital infrastructure investment, culminating in the 2021 rebrand to DigitalBridge after exiting legacy real estate assets.
The acquisition preserves DigitalBridge’s leadership and operational structure, with Ganzi continuing as CEO and the platform functioning independently within SoftBank. The scale of DigitalBridge’s operations is impressive: the firm managed roughly $108 billion in assets as of September 30, making it one of the world’s largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure. This substantial asset base and operational expertise will now contribute to SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy.
SoftBank’s AI-related investments extend well beyond this acquisition. The company is a founding member of the Stargate project consortium, which includes OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, a technology investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. This ambitious initiative involves investing billions of dollars in large-scale computing infrastructure designed specifically for advanced artificial intelligence development. The project includes plans for five computing sites across Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio, with a target combined power capacity of approximately 7 gigawatts.