---
title: "Japan Times — SoftBank Launches $10B of Notes Plus €1B to Fund an OpenAI Tranche"
url: https://stacklist.com/card/4df5dfde-8156-4d07-b8a4-be7dba417e6f
source_url: "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/09/21/companies/softbank-11-billion-junk-bonds-openai-bet/"
stack: https://stacklist.com/c/finance/stack/0646d51e-dad0-4c1e-a033-869814d86f1c
summary: "SoftBank Group is seeking over $11 billion in junk bonds, including $10 billion in dollar securities and 1 billion euros in euro notes, to fund a follow-on investment in OpenAI. The financing represents one of the largest debt-fueled bets on artificial intelligence as the conglomerate deepens its commitment to the ChatGPT creator."
tags: "softbank, openai, junk-bonds, investment, artificial-intelligence, debt-financing"
key_entities: "SoftBank Group (organization), OpenAI (organization), Masayoshi Son (person), ChatGPT (technology), artificial-intelligence (concept), Tokyo (location)"
classification: "news"
content_hash: "sha256:1b6a34327c4bc2ad6e2095484abd283f8b5826bfacd8bab0ed703ed403bccafa"
acp_version: "0.2"
token_counts_approximate: 829
visibility: public
agent_accessible: true
status: "final"
---

# Japan Times — SoftBank Launches $10B of Notes Plus €1B to Fund an OpenAI Tranche

BUSINESS / Companies SoftBank seeks over $11 billion in junk bonds for OpenAI bet Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group, speaks at the SoftBank World forum in Tokyo in July. | Bloomberg By Janice Huang and Harry Suhartono Bloomberg SHARE/SAVE X Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Threads Email Print Bookmark story Copy link Sep 21, 2026 SoftBank Group is seeking the equivalent of more than $11 billion in what would be one of the biggest junk bond deals ever, people familiar with the matter said Monday, as billionaire Masayoshi Son’s conglomerate ramps up its investments in ChatGPT creator OpenAI. The company is looking to issue $10 billion of dollar securities across three tenors, and €1 billion ($1.1 billion) of euro notes across two maturities, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. The money will be used in part to fund a follow-on investment in OpenAI expected to close next month, the people said. The deal may price on Thursday, they added. One of the world’s largest investors in AI, SoftBank’s fortunes have become increasingly intertwined with its ability to monetize its holding in OpenAI after committing close to $65 billion to the tech pioneer. That’s put Son’s firm at the epicenter of debt-fueled bets on artificial intelligence, at a time when safety concerns about the industry have flared. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page. Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ WHAT’S TRENDING   Editors' Picks Powerful Typhoon Dujuan drenches Tokyo area Typhoon Dujuan set to arrive in Kanto during Silver Week Japan foreign ministry draws flak over costumes used in anti-terror drill North Korea fires off two ballistic missiles As Japan’s sewers age, a few towns are considering a switch to septic tanks In superaged Japan, athletes are making waves well into their 90s A cocktail menu for the ‘konbini’-obsessed For a Japanese-Canadian squash pro, the Asian Games are personal Buy SpaceX directly on Nasdaq as you eat lunch in Tokyo What ADHD looks like when it gets ahold of a microphone Our Planet The joys and challenges of running an Antarctic kitchen By Tomoko Otake Podcast Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’ Longform The new izakaya economy By Alex K.T. Martin SUSTAINABLE JAPAN Destination Restaurants 2026 award ceremony report SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division. 広告出稿に関するおといあわせはこちらまで Read more SUPPLEMENTS BINDER Bridges by SMS Global Insight GMI Post World Eye Reports Latest News Decade after mercury ban, toxic skin bleachers still on top retailer sites 10 hours ago Gaza students return to in-person schooling for first time in three years 11 hours ago China confirms Xi’s first trip to U.S. in nearly three years Philippine-born woman plans first visit to father’s native Okinawa Former South Korean military officers sentenced to prison over 2024 martial law incident