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SoftBank Exits Nvidia to Fund OpenAI Megadeal and AI Infrastructure Push

The sale finances a December tranche to OpenAI, signaling a pivot from passive holdings to ownership of chips, data centers, and robotics.

Overview

  • SoftBank disclosed it sold all 32.1 million Nvidia shares in October for about $5.83 billion, marking its second full exit from the chipmaker.
  • Alongside a $9.17 billion partial sale of T-Mobile shares, the proceeds are earmarked for an up to $40 billion OpenAI commitment with $22.5 billion slated for December.
  • The company arranged an $8.5 billion bridge loan for OpenAI’s first closing and a $6.5 billion bridge loan tied to the reported Ampere acquisition, while also issuing yen and foreign-currency debt.
  • Vision Fund gains surged on AI mark-ups, helping group net income more than double for the period, with OpenAI valuations a key driver in the quarter.
  • CFO Yoshimitsu Goto said the Nvidia disposal was a financing decision, as SoftBank advances a ‘physical AI’ strategy that includes the Stargate data-center initiative, even as investors debate valuation and leverage risks.