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SoftBank agrees to invest up to $40bn in OpenAI at a $260bn pre-money valuation

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SoftBank Group signed a definitive agreement on 31 March 2025 for follow-on investments of up to $40 billion in OpenAI, at a pre-money valuation of $260 billion, and planned to syndicate $10 billion to co-investors, leaving its own share at up to $30 billion. A first $10 billion closing was due in April 2025, financed with borrowing from Mizuho Bank and other lenders. The second closing of up to $30 billion depended on OpenAI completing its recapitalisation by the end of 2025, and would fall to $10 billion if that did not happen.

Why it matters

A Japanese group made OpenAI its most important partner, with the size of its payment tied to OpenAI’s change of corporate structure.

When
31 Mar 2025
ID
WTA-N-2025-0097
Who
SoftBank Group, OpenAI, Mizuho Bank

Summary by wheresthe.ai, from SoftBank Group and the reporting credited above. Checked against the source on 9 Oct 2026.

Source copy: download the page as saved on 18 Oct 2026 (PDF). Also held by the Internet Archive.

Earlier in this Storyline: What led hereSoftBank and OpenAI form SB OpenAI Japan to sell ‘Cristal intelligence’ to Japanese firms

Cite this story

WTA-N-2025-0097: “SoftBank agrees to invest up to $40bn in OpenAI at a $260bn pre-money valuation.” wheresthe.ai, 31 Mar 2025. https://wheresthe.ai/d/jp-softbank-openai-40bn-round-2025-03/ (source: SoftBank Group).

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