DigitalBridge Group’s $108 billion asset base is now becoming part of SoftBank Group’s AI strategy through a $4 billion acquisition, both companies announced. The transaction reflects founder Masayoshi Son’s focus on assembling a comprehensive portfolio of infrastructure assets supporting artificial intelligence development.
The deal provides SoftBank with significantly increased exposure to digital infrastructure, which delivers the computing, storage, and connectivity capabilities essential for AI systems. Son has been systematically positioning SoftBank’s investments around artificial intelligence, recognizing the unprecedented opportunity created by the technology. The explosive growth in demand for computing capacity to power AI applications has made infrastructure assets increasingly valuable, which DigitalBridge’s portfolio directly captures.
DigitalBridge specializes in digital infrastructure investments encompassing datacenters, cell towers, fiber networks, small-cell systems, and edge infrastructure. The portfolio features prominent companies like Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge. Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital with a concentration on traditional real estate, the firm underwent a complete transformation under CEO Marc Ganzi’s direction, divesting legacy property investments and rebranding as DigitalBridge in 2021.
Marc Ganzi will continue leading DigitalBridge as CEO following the acquisition, with the platform maintaining operational independence. The scale of what SoftBank is acquiring is impressive: DigitalBridge managed around $108 billion in assets as of September 30, making it one of the largest dedicated investors in digital infrastructure globally. This established platform brings both substantial assets and specialized expertise to SoftBank’s growing AI infrastructure portfolio.
SoftBank’s AI infrastructure strategy extends beyond DigitalBridge. 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 sites in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio designed for approximately 7 gigawatts of combined power capacity.