MoneyThe story, in brief
SoftBank launches one of biggest junk bond deals to fund OpenAI bet
$11B+. SoftBank is betting the bond market on OpenAI — and it's one of the largest junk deals ever.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
SoftBank's massive capital raise signals confidence in AI's ROI but also reveals the scale of funding required to compete in the frontier lab race. This is how the $100B+ AI bets are getting bankrolled.
The key facts
5 to knowSoftBank raising $11B+ in dollar and euro bonds
Deal characterized as one of biggest junk bond issuances
Proceeds explicitly tied to OpenAI investment
September 2026 timing — part of broader AI funding acceleration
Bond financing (not equity) chosen for this scale of capital raise
Go to the source
Financial Times Technologyft.com
Publisher excerpt: Japanese group seeks to raise more than $11bn in dollar and euro bonds as it invests in the AI boom