SoftBank secures $11.87 billion to keep funding OpenAI

SoftBank has secured an $11.87 billion two-year loan from about 20 banks to fund its massive investment in OpenAI, according to the Japan Times, citing people familiar with the matter. The move comes just as the Japanese conglomerate's shares slid by as much as 13%.

A bet measured in the tens of billions

SoftBank has already committed tens of billions of dollars to OpenAI and expects its cumulative investment to reach about $64.6 billion by October, giving it roughly 13% of the AI company. The new loan is separate from a $10 billion margin facility tied to SoftBank's OpenAI stake.

A restructuring of AI financing

The deal is part of a broader reorganization of how the group funds its AI push. SoftBank said last week it plans to repay the remaining $25.9 billion on a $40 billion bridge loan on September 15. The group has been blending short-term borrowing, asset-backed loans and bond sales — and has discussed selling up to $20 billion of bonds overseas.

Banks are lending; investors are selling

Lenders, protected by guarantees, collateral and tighter terms, still appear comfortable funding one of the largest private technology bets ever made. The stock market is asking a different question: what happens if the AI race slows before those bets pay off?

Sources

• TechStartups — SoftBank secures $11.87 billion to keep funding OpenAI
• The Japan Times — SoftBank loan for OpenAI investment