SoftBank Group is reshaping its global investment portfolio. In a move that reflects a bold pivot toward artificial intelligence, the Japanese conglomerate sold its entire stake in Nvidia for $5.8 billion, offloading 32 million shares in October 2025.
The timing was telling. This liquidation coincided with SoftBank’s announcement of a record-breaking ¥2.5 trillion ($16.2 billion) net profit for Q2 FY2025 — more than double the previous year and far exceeding forecasts of ¥207 billion. Profits were buoyed by massive gains from OpenAI and Japan’s fintech player PayPay, both housed within SoftBank’s tech-focused Vision Funds.
Fueling a $113 Billion AI Vision
SoftBank’s Chief Financial Officer, Yoshimitsu Goto, revealed that the Nvidia sale was not triggered by performance concerns. Instead, the company needs capital to fulfil over $30 billion in current AI-related commitments. The broader plan? A long-term strategy to allocate $113 billion into AI, robotics, cloud software, and data infrastructure.
That figure contrasts starkly with current funding capacity: analysts estimate SoftBank has only $58.5 billion readily available — leaving a gap of nearly $55 billion. This divergence raises concerns among market watchers over execution risks and long-term solvency.
To help cover these investments, SoftBank recently liquidated part of its stake in T-Mobile US for $9.2 billion and initiated a 4-to-1 stock split to make shares more accessible to retail investors.
Strategic AI Holdings: Beyond OpenAI
Masayoshi Son is positioning SoftBank at the core of the AI revolution. In addition to the Nvidia exit, the company:
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Increased its share in OpenAI to 11%, post-restructuring, compared to Microsoft’s 27%
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Acquired ABB’s robotics arm in a $5.4 billion deal
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Invested in Oracle and the ambitious Stargate data center project
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Continues to hold ownership of UK chip firm Arm Holdings
These moves highlight SoftBank’s focus on integrating AI across infrastructure, software, and hardware ecosystems.
Market Confidence vs Structural Risks
Despite rising investor confidence — SoftBank’s shares have doubled in 2025, surpassing ¥22,000 — valuation concerns persist. CLSA analyst Oliver Matthew believes shares are still undervalued by 25%, especially if OpenAI achieves a $1 trillion valuation.
However, skepticism is rising. MST Financial warns that the AI hype may be peaking, especially with uncertain ChatGPT demand and the high costs of debt financing. Recent bond issues with interest rates above 8% suggest that credit markets are pricing in risk — even if equity markets are not.
The question remains: can SoftBank balance ambition with liquidity?
What This Means for Strategic Investors
For businesses and investors in Asia and beyond, SoftBank’s aggressive restructuring offers two lessons:
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The capital demand for AI integration is massive — and may strain even the largest conglomerates.
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Strategic divestment is becoming a necessary tool to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
As competition intensifies, balancing innovation with financial sustainability will define the next decade in AI investment.