SoftBank Eyes 13% Stake in OpenAI After Securing a $40 Billion Loan
In Focus
- The bridge loan is provided by U.S. and Japanese lenders
- SoftBank will use the load to fulfill its $30 billion funding commitment to OpenAI
- The bridge loan facility is set to mature on March 25, 2027
SoftBank Group is increasing its investment in OpenAI with the aim of pushing its stake to 13%. The Japanese investor has secured a $40 billion bridge loan to fulfill a follow-up funding commitment to the AI developer. According to Reuters, the company said the loan is unsecured and will also be used to support general operations in the Japanese conglomerate.
SoftBank’s investment in OpenAI is part of the $110 billion funding round run by the ChatGPT maker in February 2026 this year. The fundraiser saw SoftBank commit to invest $30 billion in OpenAI through its Vision Fund 2. Amazon and Nvidia also participated in the financing round, investing $50 billion and $30 billion respectively.
SoftBank’s Focus on Artificial Intelligence
Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI has risen to the forefront of the AI industry. The rapid adoption of its chatbot, ChatGPT, has attracted significant investment into the AI company. Led by founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, the Japanese investment conglomerate has been keen on strengthening its ties with the AI developer as the global AI race tightens.
As part of its AI investment strategy, SoftBank invested $40 billion in the ChatGPT maker for a 10% stake. The latest loan highlights Son’s deepening commitment to AI. It represents a significant shift in SoftBank’s focus following years of volatility that resulted in record gains and heavy losses in the company’s Vision Fund.
As part of its AI infrastructure investment in the U.S, SoftBank teamed up with OpenAI to back the Stargate project. The initiative was launched last year and targets $500 billion in AI investment across the current over a four year period.
How SoftBank’s Bridge Loan Works
SoftBank’s $40 billion loan was executed on March 27, 2026. The lenders are top banks in the U.S. and Japan, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
The bridge loan facility is set to mature on March 25, 2027. Amounts borrowed under bridge loan facility agreements are often repaid in tranches by the maturity date. Often, the loans are supported by existing assets and alternative financing arrangements.
Amounts drawn under the bridge facility agreement are expected to be repaid in tranches by the maturity date, supported by existing assets and alternative financing arrangements. SoftBank’s follow-on commitment will bring its total investment in OpenAI to $64.6 billion, which represents a 13% stake. This is far less than Microsoft’s 27% stake, which the Windows maker negotiated for as part of its restructuring deal with OpenAI last year.
