Reuters reported on July 1, citing multiple sources, that SoftBank has resumed negotiations with a lending group that includes Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Mizuho Financial Group. The loan would be secured against SoftBank's holdings in OpenAI.
Earlier this year, SoftBank attempted a similar loan but faced challenges due to opposition from banks. The difficulties stemmed from the challenges in valuing the stake in OpenAI, which is a private company, and the complications of selling the collateral shares in the market.
In the current negotiations, SoftBank has proposed additional repayment guarantees. This would allow banks to demand direct repayment from SoftBank even if the value of the OpenAI stake declines, thereby reducing the lenders' risk.
If the loan is finalized, the funds are expected to be used for AI investments. Previously, SoftBank secured a $40 billion bridge loan to support its investment in OpenAI.
Under Son's leadership, SoftBank is expanding its investments in AI. In addition to OpenAI, the company is also involved in AI infrastructure projects such as the Stargate data center initiative. The total investment in related projects is reported to exceed $60 billion.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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