SoftBank Group is in talks to obtain a loan of as much as $40 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, with the purpose largely to finance its investment in artificial intelligence developer OpenAI. If completed on the terms discussed, the borrowing would represent the conglomerate 's largest borrowing denominated solely in U.S. dollars to date.
Sources indicate the financing being discussed is structured as a bridge loan with an approximate 12-month maturity. The facility is expected to be underwritten by a quartet of lenders, among them JPMorgan Chase. Negotiations with prospective banks are ongoing and the final terms could be revised before any agreement is signed.
The reported loan request underscores founder Masayoshi Son's aggressive strategy to place SoftBank at the center of the artificial intelligence boom. The group has already committed substantial capital to AI: it has invested more than $30 billion in OpenAI and, as of the end of December, held an approximately 11% stake in the company, making OpenAI one of SoftBank 's largest investments.
To support its increasing AI commitments, SoftBank has sold assets, including its stake in chip designer NVIDIA. OpenAI now ranks alongside Arm Holdings among the conglomerate's most significant holdings.
Credit watchers have taken notice: S&P Global Ratings recently lowered SoftBank's credit outlook, citing that heavy spending on AI investments could exert pressure on the group's liquidity. That assessment reflects the tension between pursuing large strategic technology stakes and preserving balance-sheet flexibility.
Details remain fluid. Talks with banks continue and the structure and size of the facility could change as negotiations proceed. The proposed one-year bridge loan, if executed as reported, would be a notable move in SoftBank's financing strategy as it seeks to fund its prominent AI investments while managing liquidity and credit profile concerns.