SoftBank Locks Down $4B DigitalBridge Deal to Secure AI Infrastructure Assets

SoftBank Group is locking down a $4 billion deal to acquire DigitalBridge Group, securing critical artificial intelligence infrastructure assets for its expanding portfolio. The transaction, announced by both companies, reflects founder Masayoshi Son’s aggressive strategy to control the infrastructure backbone supporting AI technologies.
This acquisition provides SoftBank with substantially broadened exposure to digital infrastructure, which delivers the computing, storage, and connectivity capabilities that AI applications require to function. Son has been orchestrating a comprehensive transformation of SoftBank’s investment focus toward artificial intelligence, recognizing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The extraordinary demand for computing resources to power AI systems has made infrastructure assets increasingly strategic, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio captures.
DigitalBridge’s investment portfolio spans essential digital infrastructure categories including datacenter facilities, telecommunications tower networks, fiber optic systems, small-cell infrastructure, and edge computing platforms. The company’s holdings feature industry leaders such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. The firm’s journey from its 1991 founding as Colony Capital, a traditional real estate investor, to its current incarnation occurred under CEO Marc Ganzi, who orchestrated the complete exit from property investments and the 2021 rebrand.
Marc Ganzi will continue leading DigitalBridge as CEO following the acquisition, with the platform maintaining operational independence. The scale of what SoftBank is securing is impressive: DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets as of September 30, making it one of the world’s largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure. This established platform gives SoftBank immediate access to substantial assets and specialized expertise in a rapidly growing sector.
SoftBank’s commitment to AI infrastructure extends across multiple fronts. The company is a founding member of the Stargate project, working with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX, an investment firm based in Abu Dhabi. Stargate represents a multi-billion-dollar commitment to building large-scale computing infrastructure optimized for advanced AI development. Current plans include five new computing facilities in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio designed for approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.