SoftBank's massive $40 billion bridge loan aimed at backing its investment in OpenAI has grown to include 21 additional lenders, with about $7 billion now allocated among new participants. This syndication reflects one of the largest bridge financings ever seen in the Asia-Pacific region.

Syndication Details and Participants

Among the new lenders, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, and Standard Chartered have each taken nearly $1 billion of the loan, while the remaining allocation has been distributed to various European, Japanese, and Taiwanese banks. The other $33 billion remains with underwriters and senior lenders, and it may be syndicated further, following the usual process for loans of this scale.

The loan was arranged in March and will mature in March 2027, providing a 12-month window for SoftBank to manage repayment or refinancing strategies. Underwriters expect this deal to generate fees exceeding $100 million. Leading arrangers include JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and MUFG Bank, while sub-underwriters such as HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Intesa Sanpaolo also participate.

Funding OpenAI and SoftBank’s AI Ambitions

This $40 billion facility funds a $30 billion follow-on investment in OpenAI through SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2, with the additional $10 billion designated for general corporate expenses. SoftBank drew down the first $10 billion tranche in April 2026, followed by scheduled $10 billion disbursements in July and October.

The loan carries an initial interest margin of roughly 250 basis points over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, yielding an approximate 6.14% interest rate at current benchmarks.

Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's CEO, has committed over $60 billion toward OpenAI, which was valued at $852 billion in a March fundraising round and recently filed for a public listing. The $30 billion channeled through this loan stands among the largest individual investments in a private tech firm. For comparison, SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 originally targeted a total size near $56 billion.

Given the 12-month maturity of the loan, SoftBank faces the need to refinance or liquidate assets before March 2027, hinting at ongoing strategic financing moves.