SoftBank Group Corp. announced it has entered into a bridge facility agreement with a total commitment of $40 billion to fund a follow-on investment in OpenAI and to provide additional capital for general corporate purposes.
The agreement was executed on Friday with a lending syndicate composed of JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and MUFG Bank. The facility carries a maturity date of March 25, 2027.
The stated purpose of the bridge facility is to raise the funds required for SoftBank's $30 billion follow-on investment in OpenAI Group PBC through SoftBank Vision Fund 2. SoftBank previously entered into a definitive agreement with OpenAI on February 27 to participate in the company’s fundraising round.
Borrowings under the bridge facility are expected to be repaid in stages on or before the facility's maturity. Repayment sources cited by SoftBank include the utilization of existing assets and other financing measures, with the intent that these steps will retire borrowings by the March 25, 2027 maturity date.
Upon completion of the planned follow-on investment, SoftBank's total investment in OpenAI would be expected to reach $64.6 billion, which SoftBank says would correspond to an ownership interest of approximately 13%. The completion of the follow-on investment remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Context and mechanics
The bridge facility is structured as a temporary financing vehicle to enable SoftBank to meet the funding requirements for its participation in OpenAI's fundraising round while preserving flexibility to repay the borrowings through asset sales or alternate financing steps prior to the facility maturity.
Timeline and conditionality
The definitive agreement between SoftBank and OpenAI that frames the proposed follow-on investment was signed on February 27. The larger funding plan is contingent on closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature; the bridge facility provides interim liquidity to support the execution of that plan.
Summary of transaction details
- Total bridge facility amount: $40 billion
- Intended allocation to OpenAI follow-on: $30 billion
- Lead lenders: JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs (with Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and MUFG Bank participating)
- Facility maturity date: March 25, 2027
- Projected cumulative SoftBank investment in OpenAI after follow-on: $64.6 billion
- Projected ownership interest after follow-on: approximately 13%
The financing move provides a clear near-term funding route for the follow-on investment while leaving open the timing and structure of how borrowings will be repaid before the maturity date. The follow-on investment remains subject to customary closing conditions and to the successful execution of the repayment plan described by SoftBank.