SoftBank Lands Massive Bridge Loan to Back OpenAI Stake

SoftBank has secured $40 billion in financing from 21 additional banks to support its investment in OpenAI. The bridge loan, which was finalized in March, is one of the largest in the Asia-Pacific region. The new lenders have collectively received approximately $7 billion from the overall credit facility.

Among the largest participants are First Abu Dhabi Bank, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, and Standard Chartered Bank, each committing portions approaching $1 billion. The initial underwriting banks and senior lenders continue to hold the remaining $33 billion portion of the financing package, which may undergo further distribution among additional banking institutions.

The financing agreement has a maturity date of March 2027 and features an initial interest margin of approximately 250 basis points above the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. This translates to an effective interest rate near 6.14%. SoftBank's total financial commitment to OpenAI has surpassed $60 billion, with the AI company achieving an $852 billion valuation in March.

SoftBank chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son has maintained a prominent commitment to OpenAI for an extended period, with his aggregate financial commitments now climbing beyond $60 billion. The 12-month loan framework necessitates that SoftBank either refinance the debt, liquidate assets, or secure equity capital prior to the March 2027 deadline.