SoftBank Group has resumed negotiations with a consortium of lenders to secure a $10 billion loan secured by its equity stake in OpenAI, offering a corporate guarantee to reassure creditors if the AI firm’s collateral proves insufficient.
The move signals SoftBank’s determination to unlock liquidity from its flagship investment despite mounting pressure on the lender’s balance sheet.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Goldman Sachs is among the banks in the lending syndicate.
The inclusion of a corporate guarantee marks a significant concession by SoftBank, effectively putting its own creditworthiness on the line to bridge any valuation gaps or liquidity concerns lenders may have regarding the private AI company.
The financing push comes at a challenging time for OpenAI, which is reportedly moving to postpone its initial public offering until 2027.
The potential delay represents a sharp reversal from earlier indications of a sooner debut and has contributed to a broader decline in global technology equities.