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SoftBank Group weighs 10 trillion yen investment in OpenAI amid financial stability concerns
Friday, February 27, 2026 at 08:11 PM
SoftBank Group is reportedly considering an investment of approximately 10 trillion yen into OpenAI, raising market concerns regarding the financial burden on the company. This massive capital injection is viewed as part of SoftBank's strategy to secure a dominant position in the AI infrastructure and development ecosystem.
Context
SoftBank Group has finalized a definitive agreement to invest an additional $30 billion in OpenAI, bringing its cumulative commitment to the AI leader to approximately $64.6 billion (nearly 10 trillion yen). This capital injection is part of a massive $110 billion funding round alongside Amazon and Nvidia, valuing the ChatGPT creator at $730 billion pre-money. SoftBank Group will execute the investment in three installments through October 2026, ultimately securing a roughly 13% ownership stake.
Investors remain cautious as the deal pushes SoftBank Group’s financial leverage to its limits. Analysts highlight a rising loan-to-value (LTV) ratio nearing the company’s internal 25% ceiling, prompting credit agencies to flag potential rating downgrades. To fund this "all-in" wager on Masayoshi Son’s artificial superintelligence strategy, the firm has aggressively offloaded stakes in Arm and Nvidia. While the move cements its role in the AI supply chain, the market is closely watching the company’s debt levels and OpenAI's path to profitability.
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