TOKYO: SoftBank Group Corp. is negotiating a $10 billion margin loan collateralized by its shares in OpenAI, aiming to bolster its aggressive investments in artificial intelligence, according to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters.
The proposed two-year facility, potentially extendable by one year, features an initial interest margin of approximately 425 basis points over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, equating to around 7.88%. Discussions are preliminary, with terms subject to change, as SoftBank leverages its OpenAI equity without immediate liquidation. This follows a $40 billion bridge loan secured in March 2026 for OpenAI and broader corporate purposes.
SoftBank’s stock has surged 31.5% year-to-date, significantly outperforming Japan’s Topix index, fueled by market confidence in its OpenAI exposure and the startup’s rapid growth trajectory. Lenders and investors view the collateralized financing as a strategic play in the booming AI sector. Neither SoftBank nor OpenAI has issued public statements on the matter.
The move aligns with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s pivot toward AI dominance, building on prior commitments including a $22.5 billion funding pledge to OpenAI and a 2025 $5 billion margin loan backed by Arm shares. Reports first surfaced via Bloomberg on April 22-23, echoed by Reuters and Seeking Alpha, highlighting SoftBank’s debt-fueled expansion despite historical investment volatility.
