SoftBank Group is considering a bond sale of between US$10 billion and US$20 billion to help refinance a loan tied to its investment in OpenAI, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.
The Japanese technology conglomerate is in talks with investment banks over the potential offering, according to the report, which cited people familiar with the matter.
The proposed bond sale comes as SoftBank continues to finance its investment in OpenAI, with the company weighing different funding options as it expands its exposure to the artificial intelligence sector.
SoftBank did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, while Reuters could not independently verify the Bloomberg report.
The potential fundraising would rank among SoftBank’s larger debt-market transactions and comes as investors closely watch the financing demands surrounding major AI investments.
SoftBank has been one of the most prominent investors in the AI sector, with its OpenAI investment forming part of a broader strategy to increase its exposure to the technology’s expected long-term growth.
