SoftBank seeks $10B margin loan against OpenAI stake

SoftBank is seeking a $10 billion margin loan backed by its OpenAI shares at an interest rate of roughly 425 basis points above the secured overnight financing rate, or about 7.88%, according to a Bloomberg report cited by The Next Web. The proposed loan carries a two-year term with a one-year extension option and has not been finalized. The loan would sit atop a $40 billion bridge loan that SoftBank secured in March from JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and MUFG Bank. SoftBank's total debt now stands at approximately 20.45 trillion yen, or roughly $135 billion. SoftBank's cumulative investment in OpenAI will reach approximately $64.6 billion once a $30 billion follow-on closes, giving it roughly a 13 percent stake. At OpenAI's $852 billion valuation, that stake is notionally worth about $110 billion. Masayoshi Son has sold SoftBank's entire Nvidia stake and billions in T-Mobile stock to help fund the position. S&P Global Ratings downgraded SoftBank's credit outlook to negative in March 2026, affirming its BB+ rating and citing concerns about liquidity and asset credit quality. Analysts estimate SoftBank faces a $32 billion funding gap over the next two years for bond redemptions and committed acquisitions.