SoftBank(US:SOBKY) Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-01-28 07:23Core Viewpoint - SoftBank is negotiating a potential investment of up to $30 billion in OpenAI, which would significantly increase its stake in the ChatGPT maker, highlighting founder Masayoshi Son's ambition in the AI sector while raising concerns about SoftBank's financial pressures [1][3]. Group 1: Investment Details - The potential investment is part of OpenAI's effort to raise up to $100 billion in a new funding round, which could value the company at $830 billion if fully funded [1]. - SoftBank previously invested $22.5 billion in OpenAI in December, acquiring an 11% stake, making it one of the largest shareholders [1]. - OpenAI is under pressure to secure substantial funding to support ongoing AI model development and operational costs, with CEO Sam Altman meeting with top investors in the Middle East for this purpose [6]. Group 2: Financial Implications - Standard & Poor's recently warned that SoftBank's large investments in AI, combined with a significant drop in Arm's stock price, are putting pressure on its credit status [3]. - If SoftBank commits to the additional $30 billion investment, its adjusted loan-to-value ratio could approach the 35% threshold that triggers a downgrade [5]. - The transaction may require at least $15 billion in asset sales and margin loans to maintain a reported loan-to-value ratio below 25% [3]. Group 3: Market Reactions and Strategic Moves - Following the news of the potential investment, SoftBank's stock price surged by 8.8% before settling at a 3.7% increase, indicating strong interest from retail investors [1]. - SoftBank has been adjusting its asset allocation to raise funds for OpenAI, including selling its entire stake in Nvidia for $5.8 billion and reducing its holdings in T-Mobile US [4]. - The company has also paused negotiations to acquire U.S. data center operator Switch as part of its strategy to focus on AI investments [4].