TLDR
- SoftBank’s $40 billion bridge loan for OpenAI has added 21 new lenders in a broader syndication phase
- The new group has been allocated around $7 billion, with First Abu Dhabi Bank, GIC, and Standard Chartered each taking nearly $1 billion
- The 12-month loan, signed in March, is one of the largest-ever bridge financings in the Asia-Pacific region
- SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has committed over $60 billion to OpenAI, which was valued at $852 billion in March
- The remaining $33 billion is held by underwriters and senior lenders and may be syndicated further
SoftBank’s massive $40 billion bridge loan to fund its investment in OpenAI has grown to include 21 new lenders, according to people familiar with the matter.
SoftBank’s $40 billion bridge loan for its investment in US tech giant OpenAI has attracted a new group of 21 lenders in a broader syndication phase, according to sources https://t.co/0I1Py9DFTb
— Bloomberg (@business) July 27, 2026
The new group of banks has been allocated around $7 billion of the total facility. First Abu Dhabi Bank, Singapore’s GIC, and Standard Chartered Bank have each taken a share of nearly $1 billion. The rest went to European, Japanese, and Taiwanese banks.
The remaining $33 billion of the loan is held by underwriters and senior lenders. That portion may also be distributed to a wider group of banks, which is standard practice for large deals of this kind.
The loan was signed in March and matures in March 2027, giving it a 12-month window. It is considered one of the largest bridge financings ever completed in the Asia-Pacific region and is expected to generate over $100 million in fees for underwriters.
Lead arrangers on the deal include JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and MUFG Bank. Sub-underwriters include HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Intesa Sanpaolo.
How the Money Flows Into OpenAI
The facility was structured to fund a $30 billion follow-on investment in OpenAI through SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2. The remaining $10 billion is set aside for general corporate purposes.
SoftBank drew down $10 billion on April 1, 2026. Two additional tranches of $10 billion each are scheduled for July 1 and October 1 of this year.
The loan carries an initial interest margin of around 250 basis points over the Secured Overnight Financing Rate. At current levels, that puts the interest rate at approximately 6.14%.
SoftBank’s Big Bet on AI
SoftBank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son has been publicly committed to OpenAI for some time. His total commitments to the company now exceed $60 billion.
OpenAI filed for a public listing last month and was valued at $852 billion in a March fundraising round.
The $30 billion directed through this facility represents one of the largest single investments ever made in a private technology company. For context, Vision Fund 2 was initially sized at around $56 billion in total.
The 12-month loan structure means SoftBank will need to refinance, sell assets, or raise equity before March 2027.
Some bankers raised concerns earlier about SoftBank’s heavy exposure to OpenAI, which faces growing competition from rivals including Anthropic.
Before the general syndication launched in May, nine banks had already joined the deal.
SoftBank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Standard Chartered, and GIC all declined to comment.
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