SoftBank Offers Corporate Guarantee to Revive $10 Billion OpenAI Loan

The proposed credit facility involves a consortium of major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Mizuho Financial Group. While SoftBank initially sought a structure backed solely by its ChatGPT-maker shares, banks resisted, citing the lack of recourse if the valuation of the private company fluctuated. By offering to guarantee the debt, SoftBank is now providing lenders a direct claim against the conglomerate’s broader balance sheet.

This financing push sits at the heart of Masayoshi Son’s aggressive strategy to cement the Japanese group as a dominant force in the global AI sector. With over $60 billion committed to AI-related infrastructure and ventures, the company is managing significant capital demands, including a $40 billion bridge loan due in March 2027. While OpenAI has reportedly filed confidentially for an initial public offering, the current lack of a public market for its shares continues to complicate collateral valuation for risk-averse banks.