SoftBank seeks $40 billion loan to fund OpenAI bet
TOKYO, March 6 — SoftBank is seeking a loan of up to $40 billion to finance its investment in artificial-intelligence company OpenAI, according to a Bloomberg News report on Friday citing people familiar with the matter, as the Japanese conglomerate accelerates its push into the rapidly expanding AI sector.
The proposed bridge loan would carry a tenor of about 12 months and would be underwritten by four lenders, including JPMorgan Chase, the report said. Reuters could not immediately verify the details of the financing plan.OpenAI and SoftBank did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.push to expand ai investmentsSoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son has intensified the group’s investment drive in artificial intelligence, positioning the technology as central to the conglomerate’s long-term growth strategy. The company has expanded its exposure to AI startups and infrastructure projects in recent years as global competition in advanced computing accelerates.
SoftBank held a stake of about 11% in OpenAI at the end of last year, according to previously reported data, making it one of the technology group’s most prominent AI investments.The potential $40 billion facility would represent one of the largest short-term loans sought by a technology investor to support a single strategic bet, highlighting the scale of capital flowing into AI development and commercialization.ipo ambitions for openaiOpenAI, the developer of the widely used ChatGPT system, has been laying the groundwork for a potential initial public offering that could value the company at up to $1 trillion, Reuters reported exclusively last year, citing people familiar with the plans.The preparations come as the company expands its commercial partnerships and builds computing infrastructure to support large-scale artificial intelligence systems used by businesses and consumers.SoftBank’s prospective financing move would reinforce the close relationship between the Japanese investor and OpenAI, as global technology companies and financial institutions compete to secure stakes in AI firms expected to shape the next phase of the digital economy.
Bridge loans are typically used as temporary financing arrangements before longer-term funding is secured. In this case, the reported 12-month structure suggests the facility could provide SoftBank with near-term liquidity to expand its position while longer-term financing options or capital market transactions are considered.Financial institutions have shown growing willingness to fund AI-related investments amid expectations that demand for advanced computing, cloud infrastructure and AI applications will expand sharply over the coming decade.The reported loan effort also underscores SoftBank’s willingness to deploy large amounts of capital behind technologies it views as transformative. Under Son’s leadership, the group has previously pursued large-scale investments in sectors ranging from telecommunications to semiconductor design through its Vision Fund investment vehicles.While details of the proposed loan structure remain limited, the reported involvement of major global banks points to strong institutional interest in financing deals tied to artificial intelligence.
