Full Breakdown
SoftBank Secures $11.87 B Loan to Back Massive OpenAI Investment
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
SoftBank Group Corp. arranged an $11.87 billion, two-year loan to finance its continued stake in U.S. artificial-intelligence firm OpenAI, according to people familiar with the deal. Roughly 20 banks committed to the facility, which was finalized last week. SoftBank declined to comment on the transaction.
Background & Context
The new loan adds to a series of financing moves tied to SoftBank’s OpenAI bet. Earlier this year the conglomerate obtained a $10 billion margin loan secured by its OpenAI stake and a $40 billion unsecured loan, of which it plans to repay the remaining $25.9 billion by mid-September. That earlier borrowing matures in March of next year. In parallel, SoftBank is evaluating a potential U.S. dollar junk-bond issuance ranging from $10 billion to $20 billion, with investor meetings scheduled in New York.
Data & Statistics
- New facility: $11.87 billion
- Prior margin loan: $10 billion
- Outstanding balance of earlier $40 billion loan: $25.9 billion (to be reduced by mid-September)
- Total financing raised in 2026 across offshore and domestic bonds and loans: about $37 billion
- Planned cumulative investment in OpenAI by October: nearly $65 billion
- SoftBank shares fell as much as 13 % on the Monday following the announcement, the steepest drop since July 17.
Impact & Outlook
The financing surge underscores SoftBank’s commitment to OpenAI despite growing concerns about AI-related credit risk. Executives in the tech sector have called for a slower pace of AI development, citing safety risks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told *Fortune* that the company will not pursue a public listing this year while it addresses those safety considerations. SoftBank’s aggressive capital-raising strategy, including the new loan and a possible large-scale bond sale, highlights the firm’s willingness to leverage substantial debt to secure its position in the fast-growing AI market, while also exposing it to heightened financial exposure if the sector’s risk profile escalates.