:SoftBank Group

SoftBank was founded in September 1981 as SOFTBANK Corp by then-24-year-old Masayoshi Son, initially as a software distributor. The company entered the publishing business in May 1982 with the launches of the Oh! PC and Oh! MZ magazines, about NEC and Sharp computers respectively.{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1992 |title=Japanese-Style Entrepreneurship: An Interview with Softbank'S CEO, Masayoshi Son |journal=Harvard Business Review |url=https://hbr.org/1992/01/japanese-style-entrepreneurship-an-interview-with-softbanks-ceo-masayoshi-son|last1=Webber |first1=Alan M. }} Oh!PC had a circulation of 140,000 copies by 1989.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2013 |title=Japan's Big Three Carriers Explained - SoftBank |url=https://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/10/27/japans-big-three-carriers-explained-softbank/}} It would go on to become Japan's largest publisher of computer and technology magazines and trade shows.

In 1994, the company went public, valued at $3 billion. In September 1995, SoftBank agreed to purchase US-based Ziff Davis publishing for $2.1 billion.{{Cite news |agency=Bloomberg Business News |title=Softbank Agrees to Buy Ziff-Davis PC Magazine Group |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 November 1995 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/10/business/softbank-agrees-to-buy-ziff-davis-pc-magazine-group.html}}

In the 1990s, Son made large investments in Internet services and the so-called new economy in general. SoftBank bought COMDEX from The Interface Group on 1 April 1995 for $800 million and ZDI on 29 February 1996.{{Cite news |first=Andrew |last=Pollack |date=1995-02-19 |title=A Japanese Gambler Hits the Jackpot With Softbank |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/19/business/a-japanese-gambler-hits-the-jackpot-with-softbank.html |access-date=2017-12-10 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Caulfield |first=Brian |date=1 September 2003 |title=Worst in Show How Key3Media, the company behind the big tech trade show Comdex, went bankrupt |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2003/09/01/348383/index.htm |access-date=2017-12-10 |website=CNN Money}} SoftBank sold COMDEX to Key3Media, a spin-off of Ziff Davis, in 2001.{{Cite web |title=Business News – Latest Headlines on CNN Business - CNN |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2003/09/01/348383/index.htm |website=CNN}} In 1996, SoftBank formed a joint venture with American internet company Yahoo!, creating Yahoo! Japan (now LY Corporation), which would become a dominant site in the country.{{Cite web |date=16 August 1999 |title=Mr. Japan.com How Son Captured Japan's Internet Economy |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1999/08/16/264312/index.htm |website=money.cnn.com}}

In another highly publicized investment, SoftBank bought 80% of memory manufacturers Kingston Technology in 1996. When the owners-founders (John Tu and David Sun) announced plans to distribute $100,000,000 of the $1.5B windfall to Kingston employees, it created a very high-profile media stir that lasted well through the 1996 Christmas season; it was on all US networks, as well as international media. A few years later, in 1999, after the market for memory softened substantially, SoftBank sold the company back at a loss to the original owners for about a third of the original price.{{cite web |date=1999-07-15 |title=2 Founders to Buy Back Kingston Stake From Softbank |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-15-fi-56161-story.html |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Los Angeles Times }}

In October 1999, SoftBank became a holding company.{{Cite web|url=https://group.softbank/philosophy/history|title=ソフトバンクグループの歩み|website=ソフトバンクグループ株式会社}} In 2000, SoftBank made its most successful investment{{snd}}$20 million to a then-fledgling Chinese Internet venture called Alibaba.{{Cite news |last1=Sender |first1=Henny |last2=Ling |first2=Connie |date=2000-01-18 |title=Softbank to Invest $20 Million In Hong Kong's Alibaba.com |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB948202996877749173 |access-date=2017-12-11 |issn=0099-9660}} This investment turned into $60 billion when Alibaba went public in September 2014.{{Cite news |last=Galani |first=Una |title=Valuing SoftBank in Alibaba's Aftermath |language=en |work=DealBook |date=22 September 2014 |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/valuing-softbank-in-alibabas-aftermath/ |access-date=2017-10-20}}{{Cite web |last=Pfanner |first=Eric |date=2014-09-19 |title=SoftBank's Alibaba Alchemy: How to Turn $20 Million Into $50 Billion |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/09/19/softbanks-alibaba-alchemy-how-to-turn-20-million-into-50-billion/ |access-date=2017-12-11 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

In February 2000, SoftBank Ventures Asia was founded under the leadership of Masayoshi Son to focus on investment in Korean-based Internet companies.{{Cite web|last=Ji-young|first=Sohn|date=2019-01-28|title=[Herald Interview] Rebranded SoftBank Ventures Asia to form new fund for AI startups in Asia|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190128000527|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Korea Herald|language=en}}File:SoftBank Hankyu-Ibaraki.JPG, Osaka, Japan]]

On 28 January 2005, SoftBank became the owner of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, a Nippon Professional Baseball team. On 17 March 2006, SoftBank announced its agreement to buy Vodafone Japan, giving it a stake in Japan's $78 billion mobile markets. In April 2006, SoftBank purchased a 23% stake in Betfair, an Internet betting exchange. In August 2006, SoftBank sold all its shares of SBI Group to a subsidiary of SBI's holding company, making SBI independent. On 1 October 2006, Vodafone Japan changed its corporate name and service brand name to "SoftBank Mobile" and "SoftBank" respectively.{{Cite web |date=2006-07-13 |script-title=ja:ボーダフォン、メールのドメイン名も「ソフトバンク」へ──10月1日から |url=http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0607/13/news050.html |access-date=2013-07-02 |publisher=ITmedia Mobile |language=Japanese}}

On 28 January 2008, it was announced that SoftBank and Tiffany & Co. collaborated in making a limited 10 model-only phone. This phone contains more than 400 platinum diamonds, totaling more than 20 carats. The cost is said to be more than 100,000,000 yen.{{Cite news |script-title=ja:上戸彩：超高価ケータイ「ないしょにしてね」 |language=Japanese |work=Sports Nippon |url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/news/20080129spn00m200016000c.html |access-date=2008-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130125848/http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/news/20080129spn00m200016000c.html |archive-date=2008-01-30}}

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On 3 February 2010, SoftBank acquired 13.7% in Ustream.{{Citation |title=Softbank profit soars; buys stake in Ustream |date=3 February 2010 |url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/softbank-profit-soars-buys-stake-in-ustream |work=Japan Today}} On 1 October 2010, Ayumi Hamasaki became the commercial spokesperson.[https://www.fbcoverup.com/docs/library/2018-10-15-Softbank-Group-Wikipedia-accessed-Oct-15-2018.pdf Softbank-Group-Wikipedia-accessed]. Fbcoverup

On 3 October 2012, the takeover of competitor eAccess was announced.{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Alexis |date=2012-10-03 |title=Softbank to acquire competitor eAccess, expand LTE network by 50 percent |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/softbank-buys-eaccess-expand-lte-network/ |access-date=2013-07-02 |publisher=Engadget}} On 1 July 2013, SoftBank announced that Willcom was a wholly-owned subsidiary, after the termination of rehabilitation proceedings. eAccess was merged with Willcom, which resulted in a new subsidiary and brand from Yahoo! Japan, Ymobile Corporation.{{Cite news |date=2014-05-19 |title=Yahoo Japan drops $3.2 billion plan to buy eAccess from SoftBank |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yahoo-japan-softbank-eaccess-idUSBREA4I03620140519 |access-date=2020-11-10}}

On 15 October 2012, SoftBank announced plans to take control of American Sprint Nextel by purchasing a 70% stake for $20 billion.{{Cite news |title=Softbank to Buy 70 Percent Stake in Sprint: Sources |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/10/15/softbank-to-buy-70-percent-stake-in-sprint-sources.html |access-date=15 October 2012}} On 6 July 2013, the United States Federal Communications Commission approved SoftBank's acquisition for $22.2 billion for a 78% ownership interest in Sprint.{{Cite web |last=Soni |first=Phalguni |title=The latest word in telecom |url=http://marketrealist.com/2014/04/latest-word-telecom-can-softbank-swing-t-mobile-deal/ |access-date=21 April 2014 |website=Market Realist |date=21 April 2014 |publisher=Market Realist, Inc.}} On 6 August 2013, SoftBank bought 2% more shares of Sprint Corporation, increasing its ownership stake to 80%.

File:Softbank in Sendai & the decorations of Sendai Star Festival.JPG, with decorations for the Tanabata ]]

In October 2013, SoftBank acquired a 51% stake in Supercell for a reported $2.1 billion. Later on 25 October 2014, they invested $210 million in OlaCabs,{{Cite news |date=25 October 2014 |title=Olacabs raises $210 million from Japan's SoftBank Corp; enters b Club |work=The Times Of India |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-25/news/55421988_1_olacabs-bhavish-aggarwal-valoriser-consultants|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026120432/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-25/news/55421988_1_olacabs-bhavish-aggarwal-valoriser-consultants|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2014}} $627 million in Snapdeal with a 30% stake in the company on 28 October 2014, and a $100 million investment in Housing.com for a 30% stake in November 2014.{{Cite news |date=19 November 2014 |title=Startup Housing.com valued at Rs 1,500 crore after SoftBank acquires 30% stake for $70 million |work=The Times Of India |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/emerging-businesses/startups/startup-housing-com-valued-at-rs-1500-crore-after-soft-bank-acquires-30-stake-for-70-million/articleshow/45197333.cms}}

In 2013, the company bought a controlling stake in French company Aldebaran Robotics, which was rebranded SoftBank Robotics. In 2014, teams from both companies co-designed Pepper, a humanoid robot. In 2015, SoftBank increased its stake to 95%.{{Cite web |title=Aldebaran Robotics Founder and CEO Steps Down, SoftBank Appoints New Leader |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/aldebaran-robotics-founder-and-ceo-steps-down-softbank-appoints-new-leader |website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|date=23 February 2015 }}{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Parmy |title=Softbank's Robotics Business Prepares To Scale Up |website=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/05/30/softbank-robotics-business-pepper-boston-dynamics/#105b3f6d4b7f}}

In 2015, SoftBank acquired DramaFever.{{Cite web |first=J.T. |last=Quigley |date=22 May 2015 |title=Post-{{as written|acqui|stion [sic]}}, DramaFever has more muscle to spread Asian entertainment to the West |url=https://www.techinasia.com/dramafever-post-acquisition/ |access-date=22 May 2015 |website=Tech In Asia}} In May 2015, Masayoshi Son said he would appoint Nikesh Arora, a former Google executive, as Representative Director and President of SoftBank. Arora had been heading SoftBank's investment arm.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Alexander |date=11 May 2015 |title=SoftBank CEO Taps a Future Successor in Nikesh Arora |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-ceo-taps-a-future-successor-in-nikesh-arora-1431328037 |access-date=11 May 2015}} On 1 June 2015, SoftBank acquired an additional 22.7% stake in Supercell, increasing its total stake to 73.2% and becoming the sole external shareholder of the company.{{Cite news |title=Japan's Softbank increases controlling stake in Finnish 'Clash of Clans' maker |date=June 2015 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-softbank-supercell/japans-softbank-increases-controlling-stake-in-finnish-clash-of-clans-maker-idUSKBN0OH23H20150601 |access-date=14 September 2020 |work=Reuters}} In June 2015, SoftBank announced it would invest US$1 billion in the Korean e-commerce website Coupang as part of its overseas expansion plans.{{Cite news |last=Ando |first=Ritsuko |date=3 June 2015 |title=SoftBank to invest $1 billion in Korean e-commerce site Coupang |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-softbank-southkorea-ecommerce-idUSKBN0OJ0GI20150603 |access-date=3 June 2015}}

In July 2015, SoftBank announced the renaming of the company from SoftBank Corp to SoftBank Group Corp. Meanwhile, SoftBank Mobile was renamed to SoftBank Corp, the now-former name of the company as a whole.{{Cite web |title=Changes of Corporate Names of SoftBank Corp. and Subsidiary - Press Releases - News - About Us - SoftBank Group |work=SoftBank Group |date=11 May 2015 |url=http://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/news/press/sb/2015/20150511_05/ |access-date=7 December 2016}} On 16 February 2016, SoftBank announced they would repurchase a record 14.2% of shares, valued at $4.4bn, to boost investor confidence.{{Cite news |date=16 February 2016 |title=Softbank reveals record $4.4bn share buyback |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35584328 |access-date=7 December 2016 }} On 31 March 2016, they announced they would sell shares worth $7.9 billion of their stake in Alibaba Group. On 21 June 2016, SoftBank sold its 84% stake in Supercell for a reported US$7.3 billion to Tencent.{{Cite news |date=21 June 2016 |title=Softbank sells stake in game developer Supercell to Tencent |work=Yahoo! News |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/softbank-sells-stake-game-developer-supercell-tencent-111704022.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622211428/https://www.yahoo.com/news/softbank-sells-stake-game-developer-supercell-tencent-111704022.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2016 |access-date=19 July 2016}} On 3 June 2016, Softbank agreed to sell most of its stake in GungHo Online Entertainment (approximately 23.47%) for about $685 million, ending Softbank's majority ownership.{{Cite magazine |title=Puzzle & Dragons studio GungHo to regain majority stake from SoftBank for $685m |url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/puzzle-dragons-studio-gungho-to-regain-majority-stake-from-softbank-for-685m/0221319 |website=develop-online.net|date=7 June 2016 }}{{Cite web |date=6 June 2016 |title=SoftBank to sell most of its stake in 'Puzzle & Dragons' maker GungHo |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/softbank-to-sell-most-of-its-stake-in-puzzle-and-dragons-maker-gungho/ |website=cnet.com}}{{Cite web |title=関連会社株式に係る公開買付けへの応募に関する契約の締結に関するお知らせ |url=https://group.softbank/news/press/20160606 |website=ソフトバンクグループ株式会社|date=6 June 2016 }} The offer was completed by 22 June.{{Cite web |title=Tender in Tender Offer for Shares of an Associate - Press Releases - News - SoftBank Group Corp. - SoftBank Group |url=http://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/news/press/sb/2016/20160621_05/ |website=softbank.jp|date=21 June 2016 }}{{Cite web |title=Results of Tender in Tender Offer for Shares of an Associate - Press Releases - News - SoftBank Group Corp. - SoftBank Group |url=http://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/news/press/sb/2016/20160722_02/ |website=softbank.jp|date=22 July 2016 }}

In June 2016, Nikesh Arora stepped down amidst pressure from investors. Board member Ron Fisher and Baer Capital Partners founder Alok Sama undertook Arora's overseas investment duties.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Alexander |date=21 June 2016 |title=SoftBank President Nikesh Arora to Step Down |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-president-nikesh-arora-to-step-down-1466506804 |access-date=21 Jun 2016}} One month later, Son announced the company's largest deal ever to buy British chip designer Arm Holdings for more than US$32 billion.{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Jacky |date=18 July 2016 |title=SoftBank-ARM: These Chips Don't Come Cheap |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-arm-these-chips-dont-come-cheap-1468827781 |access-date=18 July 2016}}{{Cite news |last=Jack |first=Simon |date=18 July 2016 |title=ARM Holdings in £24bn Japanese takeover deal |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36822272 |access-date=7 December 2016 }} This acquisition was completed on 5 September 2016.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=5 September 2016 |title=SoftBank acquires ARM |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/5/12798302/softbank-arm-acquisition-complete |access-date=5 September 2016 |website=The Verge}}

On 6 December 2016, after meeting with the then United States President-elect Donald Trump, chief executive Masayoshi Son announced SoftBank would be investing US$50 billion in the United States toward businesses creating 50,000 new jobs.{{Cite news |last=Knutson |first=Ryan |date=6 December 2016 |title=When Billionaires Meet: $50 Billion Pledge From SoftBank to Trump |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-says-softbank-pledges-to-invest-50-billion-in-u-s-1481053732}}{{Cite web |title=Trump: SoftBank to add $50B, 50K jobs in U.S. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/12/06/trump-softbank-invest-50b-us-create-50000-jobs/95050926/ |website=usatoday.com}}{{Cite journal |date=13 January 2017 |title=Amazon to add 100,000 full-time jobs in U.S. by '19 |journal=USA Today |page=B1/B2}}

On 30 January 2017, the Wall Street Journal wrote that SoftBank Group was "weighing an investment of well over $1 billion in shared-office space company WeWork, in what could be among the first deals from its new $100 billion technology fund."{{Citation |last1=Farrell |first1=Maureen |title=SoftBank Mulls Investment of Over $1 Billion in WeWork |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-mulls-investment-of-over-1-billion-in-wework-1485814702 |place=New York City |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |access-date=31 January 2017 |last2=Winkler |first2=Rolfe |last3=Brown |first3=Eliot|date=31 January 2017 }} On 20 March, SoftBank bought a $300m stake in WeWork.{{Cite news |title=Masayoshi Son goes on a $100bn shopping spree |url=https://www.economist.com/news/business/21719842-risk-one-japans-greatest-tech-tycoons-his-messianic-streak-masayoshi-son-goes |access-date=2017-12-11 |newspaper=The Economist}} On 14 February 2017, SoftBank Group agreed to buy Fortress Investment Group LLC for $3.3 billion.{{Citation |last1=Hoffman |first1=Liz |title=SoftBank to Buy Fortress Investment Group for $3.3 Billion |date=14 February 2017 |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |last2=Jenny |first2=Strasburg |last3=Sarah |first3=Krouse}} In February 2017, it was announced that Social Finance Inc. was close to raising $500 million from an investor group led by Silver Lake, including Softbank.{{Citation |last=Rudegeair |first=Peter |title=Silver Lake, Softbank to Join New $500 Million Investment in Lender SoFi |date=16 February 2017 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/silver-lake-softbank-to-join-new-500-million-investment-in-lender-sofi-1487247369?tesla=y |place=New York City |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=17 February 2017}} On 28 March 2017, the Wall Street Journal reported that SoftBank Group Corporation had approached Didi Chuxing Technology Co. about investing $6 billion to help the ride-hailing firm expand in self-driving car technologies, with the bulk of the money to come from SoftBank's planned $100 billion Vision Fund.{{Cite news |last1=Wu |first1=Kane |last2=Negishi |first2=Mayumi |date=28 March 2017 |title=SoftBank Considers $6 Billion Investment in China Ride-Hailing Firm Didi |work=Wall Street Journal |location=New York |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-talks-to-chinas-uber-rival-didi-about-6-billion-investment-1490689527?tesla=y |access-date=30 March 2017}}

On 18 May 2017, it was reported that Softbank had completed its single largest investment in India to date, investing $1.4 billion in Paytm. At the time, Softbank was also working on a takeover of Snapdeal by Flipkart.{{Cite news |last=Mundy |first=Simon |date=18 May 2017 |title=India's Paytm wins $1.4bn Softbank investment |work=Financial Times |location=London |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2175189b-d958-3ce6-b0ff-e773fe046fe4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2175189b-d958-3ce6-b0ff-e773fe046fe4 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 May 2017}} On 10 August 2017, Softbank invested $2.5 billion in Flipkart.{{Cite news |last=Rai |first=Saritha |title=SoftBank Fund Is Said to Invest $2.5 Billion in Flipkart |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-10/softbank-vision-fund-invests-in-top-indian-online-mall-flipkart |access-date=12 July 2018 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=10 August 2017 }}

On 27 May 2017, Softbank and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), the kingdom's main sovereign wealth fund, partnered to create the Softbank Vision Fund, the world's largest private equity fund with a capital of $93 billion.{{Cite web |last=Alkhalisi |first=Zahraa |date=6 October 2017 |title=Where the huge SoftBank-Saudi tech fund is investing |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/20/technology/softbank-vision-fund-saudi-investments/index.html |access-date=4 November 2018 |website=Cnn.com}} Softbank Group contributed $28 billion to the investment fund, of which $8.2 billion came from the sale of approximately 25% of British multinational Arm Holdings shares.{{Cite web |date=20 May 2017 |title=SoftBank Vision Fund announces first major close |url=http://www.softbank.jp/corp/d/group_news/press_20170520_01_en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809184654/http://www.softbank.jp/corp/d/group_news/press_20170520_01_en.pdf |archive-date=9 August 2017 |access-date=9 November 2018 |website=Softbank.jp}} Saudi Arabia is the principal investor in the fund, its Public Investment Fund (PIF) agreed to inject $45 billion into the Vision Fund over 5 years, becoming its largest investor.{{Cite news |date=25 May 2017 |title=Masayoshi Son and Saudi Arabia launch a monster technology fund |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2017/05/25/masayoshi-son-and-saudi-arabia-launch-a-monster-technology-fund |access-date=9 November 2018 |newspaper=The Economist}} Other investors include Apple, Qualcomm, Arm, Foxconn, Sharp, Larry Ellison and Mubadala.{{Cite web |first=Kerry A. |last=Dolan |date=5 April 2017 |title=Japanese Billionaire Masayoshi Son, Larry Ellison, Apple, Saudi Arabia All Bet On Vision Fund |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kerryadolan/2017/04/05/masayoshi-sons-new-universe-softbank-vision-fund-apple-trump/ |access-date=9 November 2018 |website=Forbes.com}} The latter agreed to invest $15 billion dollars in the fund, targeting artificial intelligence, communications infrastructure, financial technology, consumer internet, mobile computing and robotics.{{Cite web |last=Torchia |first=Andrew |date=20 May 2017 |title=Softbank-Saudi tech fund becomes world's biggest with $93 billion of capital |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-softbank-visionfund-launch/softbank-saudi-tech-fund-becomes-worlds-biggest-with-93-billion-of-capital-idUSKCN18G0NP |access-date=9 November 2018 |website=Reuters.com}} Through Softbank Vision Fund, CEO Masayoshi Son explained his intent to invest in all companies developing technologies emphasizing global artificial intelligence, including sectors such as finance or transportation.{{Cite web |last=Benner |first=Katie |date=10 October 2017 |title=Masayoshi Son's Grand Plan for SoftBank's $100 Billion Vision Fund |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/technology/masayoshi-son-softbank-vision-fund.html |access-date=9 November 2018 |website=The New York Times}} In July 2019, SoftBank announced creating of a "Vision Fund 2", excluding participation from the Saudi Arabia government and including investors Apple, Foxconn, Microsoft and others. The fund is reported to focus on AI-based technology and invest approximately $108 billion, including $38 billion of its own funds.{{Cite web |last=Shu |first=Catherine |title=SoftBank announces AI-focused second $108 billion Vision Fund with LPs including Microsoft, Apple and Foxconn |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/25/softbank-announces-ai-focused-second-108-billion-vision-fund-with-lps-including-microsoft-apple-and-foxconn/ |access-date=3 August 2019 |website=Tech Crunch|date=26 July 2019 }} In February 2020, however, a report from Wall Street Journal stated the fund would only up with less than half of that capital.{{Cite news |first1=Rolfe |last1=Winkler |first2=Liz |last2=Hoffman |first3=Bradley |last3=Hope |date=2020-02-07 |title=New SoftBank Tech Fund Falls Far Short of $108 Billion Fundraising Goal |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-softbank-tech-fund-falls-far-short-of-108-billion-fundraising-goal-11581100669 |access-date=2020-02-10 |issn=0099-9660}}

On 8 June 2017, Alphabet Inc. announced the sale of Boston Dynamics (robotics companies whose products include BigDog) to SoftBank Group for an undisclosed sum.{{Cite news |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=9 Jun 2017 |title=SoftBank is buying robotics firms Boston Dynamics and Schaft from Alphabet |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/08/softbank-is-buying-robotics-firm-boston-dynamics-and-schaft-from-alphabet/}} On 25 August 2017, SoftBank finalized a $4.4 billion investment in WeWork.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Eliot |date=25 August 2017 |title=SoftBank Finalizes $4.4 Billion WeWork Investment |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-invests-additional-3-billion-in-wework-1503597860}} On 24 October 2017, Son announced the group would collaborate with Saudi Arabia to develop Neom, the new high-tech business and industrial city of the Saudi Kingdom.{{Cite web |date=24 October 2017 |title=SoftBank to work with Saudi Arabia on new city |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-economy-neom/softbank-to-work-with-saudi-arabia-on-new-city-idUSKBN1CT1TK |access-date=4 November 2018 |website=Reuters.com}} On 14 November 2017, Softbank agreed to invest $10 billion into Uber.{{Cite web |title=Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem |url=https://www.techinasia.com/uber-board-agrees-to-terms-of-10b-deal-with-softbank |access-date=2017-11-21 |website=www.techinasia.com |language=en-US}} On 29 December 2017, it was reported that a SoftBank-led consortium had invested $9 billion into Uber. The deal, to close in January 2018, would leave SoftBank as Uber's biggest shareholder, with a 15 percent stake.{{Cite news |last=Hook |first=Leslie |date=29 December 2017 |title=SoftBank deal helps clear path towards Uber IPO |work=Financial Times |location=London |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a079da14-ec58-11e7-bd17-521324c81e23 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/a079da14-ec58-11e7-bd17-521324c81e23 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 December 2017}} The deal was secured after Uber shareholders voted to "sell their shares to the Japanese conglomerate at a discounted price." Beyond SoftBank, consortium members included Dragoneer, Tencent, TPG and Sequoia.{{Cite news |last=Hook |first=Leslie |date=28 December 2017 |title=SoftBank-led group to acquire $9bn stake in Uber |work=Financial Times |location=London |url=https://www.ft.com/content/33ca6fbc-ec00-11e7-8713-513b1d7ca85a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/33ca6fbc-ec00-11e7-8713-513b1d7ca85a |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 December 2017}}

On 14 January 2018, Softbank's Vision Fund announced to invest $560 million in the German used-car sales portal Auto1.{{Cite news |title=SoftBank's Vision Fund Invests $560 Million in Auto1 Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-14/softbank-s-vision-fund-invests-560-million-in-auto1-car-portal |access-date=2018-02-01 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=14 January 2018 |language=en-US}} On 1 March 2018, Softbank's Vision Fund led a $535 million investment in DoorDash.{{Cite news |title=DoorDash is raising $535 million from SoftBank and others at a $1.4 billion valuation |work=Recode |url=https://www.recode.net/2018/3/1/17065928/doordash-softbank-gic-funding |access-date=2018-03-02}} In May 2018, CEO Masayoshi Son revealed during an earnings presentation that Walmart had reached a deal to buy Flipkart.{{Cite web |title=Whoops: SoftBank CEO reveals Walmart has acquired Flipkart – TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/09/walmart-softbank-flipkart-masayoshi-son/ |access-date=2018-05-09 |website=techcrunch.com |date=9 May 2018 |language=en-US}} On 27 September 2018, Softbank announced the investment of $400 Million in Home-Selling Startup Opendoor.{{Cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Eliot |last2=Kusisto |first2=Laura |date=2018-09-27 |title=SoftBank Invests $400 Million in Home-Selling Startup Opendoor |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-invests-400-million-in-home-selling-startup-opendoor-1538042400 |access-date=2018-09-27 |issn=0099-9660}}

In September 2018, Saudi government officials announced that a planned $200 billion project with SoftBank Group to build the world's biggest solar-power-generation project would be put on hold.{{Cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Rory |last2=Said |first2=Summer |date=2018-09-30 |title=Saudi Arabia Shelves Work on SoftBank's $200 Billion Solar Project |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-shelves-work-on-softbanks-200-billion-solar-project-1538328820 |access-date=2018-10-01 |issn=0099-9660}} In November 2018, SoftBank announced it would make an IPO of SoftBank Corp., the telecommunications operator, with the cost of share of $13.22 (which is 1,500 yen). The offer of the shares was going to last for a month. Regarding the number of shares, the total value of SoftBank Corp. will reach $21.15 billion, which would be the second-largest IPO ever made.{{Cite news |title=SoftBank sets indicative share price of 1,500 yen for next month's IPO |language=en-US |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/29/softbank-sets-indicative-share-price-of-1500-yen-for-next-months-ipo/ |access-date=2018-11-30}}

In December 2018, SoftBank invested in ParkJockey. The startup attempts to monetize parking lots. After the investment round, general valuation of the ParkJourney reached $1 billion.{{Cite web |title=SoftBank invests in parking startup ParkJockey pushing valuation to $1 billion |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/10/softbank-invests-in-parking-startup-parkjockey-pushing-valuation-to-1-billion/ |access-date=2018-12-11 |website=TechCrunch |date=10 December 2018 |language=en-US}}

In December 2018, SoftBank announced its intention to invest $1 billion on ride-hailing startup Grab. Some sources said that the total amount of investment could reach $1.5 billion.{{Cite web |title=SoftBank's Vision Fund is preparing to invest $1 billion in Grab |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/20/softbank-vision-fund-grab-1-billion/ |access-date=2018-12-21 |website=TechCrunch |date=21 December 2018 |language=en-US}}

On 25 September 2019, Softbank Robotics launched Whiz robotic vacuum cleaner in Singapore.{{Cite web |date=25 September 2019 |title=SoftBank Robotics Singapore Launches AI Commercial Vacuum Cleaner 'Whiz' |url=https://www.softbankrobotics.com/corp/pressroom/20190925b/ |work=SoftBank Robotics - Group | Global Site }}

In September 2019, WeWork's IPO was canceled.{{Cite news |last1=Eavis |first1=Peter |last2=Merced |first2=Michael J. de la |date=30 September 2019 |title=WeWork I.P.O. Is Withdrawn as Investors Grow Wary |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/30/business/wework-ipo.html }}

In December 2019, Softbank sold its interest in dog-walking startup Wag at a loss.{{Cite news |last=Griffith |first=Erin |date=10 December 2019 |title=SoftBank Takes Loss in Sale of Wag, Dog-Walking Start-Up |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/business/softbank-wag.html }} Tadashi Yanai, Fast Retailing's CEO and Japan's richest man at the time, left the board after 18 years.{{Cite web |date=27 December 2019 |title=SoftBank loses one of the few board members who could challenge Masayoshi Son |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-12-27/tadashi-yanai-exits-softbank-board-challenged-masayoshi-son |website=Los Angeles Times}}

In January 2020, multiple Softbank-funded startups started cutting their staff, including Getaround, Oyo, Rappi, Katerra and Zume.{{Cite news |last1=Goel |first1=Vindu |last2=Singh |first2=Karan Deep |last3=Griffith |first3=Erin |date=13 January 2020 |title=Oyo Scales Back as SoftBank-Funded Companies Retreat |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/technology/oyo-hotel-india-softbank.html }} In February 2020, Elliott Management, an activist hedge fund, bought a $2.5 billion stake in Softbank and pushed for restructuring and more transparency, especially regarding its Vision Fund.{{Cite news |last=Merced |first=Michael J. de la |date=6 February 2020 |title=Elliott Management Is Said to Push for Change at SoftBank |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/business/dealbook/elliott-management-softbank.html }} Consequently, plans for a second Vision Fund were pushed back.{{Cite news |date=3 March 2020 |title=SoftBank CEO tells U.S. investors he'll be more careful |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-softbank-ceo-idUSKBN20Q0BP |newspaper=Reuters |last1=Hu |first1=Joshua Franklin }}

In November 2019, it was announced that Line Corp. and Z Holdings were going to be a new subsidiary under Naver Corporation and SoftBank Group, their respective owners.{{Cite web |last=Shu |first=Catherine |date=18 November 2019 |title=Yahoo Japan and Line Corp. confirm merger agreement |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/17/yahoo-japan-and-line-corp-confirm-merger-agreement/ |access-date=7 April 2020 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} The closing was delayed until March 2021 due to COVID-19.{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus delays Yahoo Japan's merger with Line|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Coronavirus-delays-Yahoo-Japan-s-merger-with-Line|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Nikkei Asia|language=en-GB}}

In March 2020, SoftBank announced that it was launching an emergency ¥4.5tn ($41bn) asset sale to fund a share buyback and debt reduction. The effort was initiated by Son in order to stem a collapse in the company’s share price due to the pandemic, "This programme will be the largest share buyback and will result in the largest increase in cash balance in the history of SBG [SoftBank Group], reflecting the firm and unwavering confidence we have in our business.". After the programme was unveiled, Softbank share price rose almost 19%. The program included a plan to repurchase ¥2tn of its shares in addition to the ¥500bn buyback it promised 10 days prior. Combined, SoftBank would be repurchasing 45% of its stock.{{Cite web |author=Kana Inagaki |display-authors=etal |date=March 22, 2020 |title=SoftBank plans $41bn asset sale to cut debt amid coronavirus tumult |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ad5785da-6cd3-11ea-89df-41bea055720b |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/ad5785da-6cd3-11ea-89df-41bea055720b |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 23, 2020 |website=Financial Times}}

On 1 April 2020, Sprint completed its merger of Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile US,, which was majority-owned by Deutsche Telekom, leaving T-Mobile the parent company. The merger also led to Softbank holding 24% of the new T-Mobile's shares, while 43% of shares are held by Deutsche Telekom. The remaining 33% will be held by others. In May 2020, Alibaba's co-founder and former CEO Jack Ma resigned from the board.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-18 |title=Alibaba's Jack Ma quits SoftBank board after $18B Vision Fund loss |url=https://nypost.com/2020/05/18/alibabas-jack-ma-quits-softbank-board-after-18b-loss/ |website=NYPost |language=en-US}}

In July 2020, SoftBank announced that it was considering selling or IPOing British chip designer Arm Holdings, which has been in a feud with the Chinese over control of its local subsidiary, but it did not have the majority ownership due to a decision made by Softbank to sell off the stake to the local partner.{{Cite web|first1=Dana|last1=Cimilluca|first2=Cara|last2=Lombardo|title=SoftBank considers sale or IPO of British chip designer Arm Holdings|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/softbank-considers-sale-or-ipo-of-british-chip-designer-arm-holdings-2020-07-13|access-date=2021-09-30|website=MarketWatch|date=13 July 2020 |language=EN-US}}{{Cite web|title=How SoftBank's sale of Arm China sowed the seeds of discord|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/China-tech/How-SoftBank-s-sale-of-Arm-China-sowed-the-seeds-of-discord|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Nikkei Asia|language=en-GB}} For Q2 of 2020, the company's revenues were $12 billion. The firm announced that it would be arranging a new fund worth $555 million. The fund will be used to invest in various companies, including Amazon, Apple and Facebook.{{Cite news |last=Inagaki |first=Kana |date=2020-08-11 |title=SoftBank rebounds from historic loss with $12bn quarterly profit |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5ddaa72e-2185-4af7-8967-b88125aa98a9 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/5ddaa72e-2185-4af7-8967-b88125aa98a9 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=2020-08-11}}

In September 2020, SoftBank Vision Fund 2 led a $100 million Series C round in Biofourmis.{{Cite news |last=Shu |first=Catherine |date=2020-09-02 |title=SoftBank Vision Fund 2 leads $100 million Series C in digital therapeutics company Biofourmis |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/02/softbank-vision-fund-2-leads-100-million-series-c-in-digital-therapeutics-company-biofourmis/ |access-date=2020-09-03}} Also in September 2020, Softbank was identified as the Nasdaq whale, where it bought stock options valued in the billions, betting on higher prices for the biggest technology companies.{{Cite web |title=Softbank was identified as being the 'Nasdaq whale' |website=CNBC|date=4 September 2020|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/04/softbank-reportedly-the-nasdaq-whale-that-bought-billions-in-options.html}}{{Cite web |title=SoftBank option purchases raise eyebrows as Wall Street backtracks |work=mint |date=5 September 2020|url=https://www.livemint.com/market/stock-market-news/softbank-option-purchases-raise-eyebrows-as-wall-street-backtracks-11599288234169.html}}{{Cite news |title=Nasdaq Whale: Softbank's huge tech options bet answers stock rally riddle |newspaper=Business Standard India|date=5 September 2020|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/nasdaq-whale-softbank-s-huge-tech-options-bet-answers-stock-rally-riddle-120090500138_1.html|last1=Lachapelle|first1=Tara}}{{Cite web |title=Nasdaq Whale and how SoftBank's derivative bets may have powered the US tech rally |date=5 September 2020|url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/market/stocks/explained-nasdaq-whale-and-how-softbanks-derivative-bets-may-have-powered-the-us-tech-rally-6833921.htm}} That month, SoftBank sold Brightstar Corporation to Brightstar Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount.{{Cite news|last1=Nussey|first1=Sam|last2=Gallagher|first2=Chris|date=2020-09-18|title=SoftBank exits cellphone distributor Brightstar in telecoms sell-down|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-softbank-group-divestiture-idUSKBN2690A1|access-date=2021-01-26}}{{Cite news |last1=Narioka |first1=Kosaku |last2=Dvorak |first2=Phred |date=2020-09-18 |title=SoftBank Sells Brightstar, Carrying On Its Divestiture Spree |language=en-US |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-sells-brightstar-carrying-on-its-divestiture-spree-11600410882 |access-date=2020-10-13 |issn=0099-9660}}

American chip design company Nvidia announced plans on 13 September 2020, to acquire ARM from SoftBank, pending regulatory approval, for a value of US $40 billion in stock and cash. This would become the largest semiconductor acquisition to date. SoftBank Group would retain a 10% share in the company, while ARM would maintain its headquarters in Cambridge.{{Cite news |last=Rosoff |first=Matt |date=13 September 2020 |title=Nvidia to buy Arm Holdings from SoftBank for $40 billion |work=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/14/nvidia-to-buy-arm-holdings-from-softbank-for-40-billion.html |access-date=13 September 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Moorhead |first=Patrick |title=It's Official: NVIDIA Acquires Arm For $40B To Create What Could Be A Computing Juggernaut |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2020/09/13/its-officialnvidia-acquires-arm-for-40b-to-create-what-could-be-a-computing-juggernaut/ |access-date=2020-09-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite news|first1=Arash|last1=Massoudi|first2=Robert|last2=Smith|first3=James|last3=Fontanella-Khan|date=12 September 2020|title=SoftBank set to sell UK's Arm Holdings to Nvidia for $40bn|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/6bfe40a5-2426-4743-98cd-6fed9dd01b98 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/6bfe40a5-2426-4743-98cd-6fed9dd01b98 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=12 September 2020}} But this deal collapsed due to regulatory hurdles.{{Cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Jane Lanhee |last2=Horwitz |first2=Josh |date=2022-02-08 |title=SoftBank dumps sale of Arm over regulatory hurdles, to IPO instead |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/softbanks-66-bln-sale-arm-nvidia-collapses-ft-2022-02-08/ |access-date=2023-02-12}}

In December 2020, Hyundai Motor Group acquired an 80% stake of Boston Dynamics from SoftBank for approximately $880 million. SoftBank retains about 20% through an affiliate.{{Cite news |date=2020-12-11 |title=Hyundai Motor Buys 80% of Robotics Firm Boston Dynamics |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-11/hyundai-motor-buys-80%-of-robot-firm-boston-dynamics |access-date=2021-01-21}}

In January 2021, SoftBank sold $2 billion in Uber Technologies shares through affiliate firm SB Cayman.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-11 |title=SoftBank Sells $2 Billion in Uber Stock as Rides Recover |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-11/softbank-sells-2-billion-of-uber-stake-after-stock-s-recovery |access-date=2021-01-21}}

In March 2021, SoftBank made a record $36.99 billion profit from its Vision Fund unit and investment gains via the public market debut of Coupang.{{Cite web |title=Softbank just shocked its critics by landing the biggest profit in the history of a Japanese company |website=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/12/softbank-joins-top-corporate-earners-with-its-37-billion-vision-fund-profit.html |date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515161539/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/12/softbank-joins-top-corporate-earners-with-its-37-billion-vision-fund-profit.html |archive-date=May 15, 2021}} SoftBank Group's net profit was $45.88 billion (¥4.99 trillion). It was the largest recorded annual profit by a Japanese company in history. The same month, Softbank's Vision Fund 2 announced investment in the eToro SPAC merger PIPE of $650 million.{{Cite news|title=Israel's eToro to go public through $10.4 billion SPAC deal backed by SoftBank, others|url=https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/israels-etoro-to-go-public-through-10-4-bln-spac-deal-backed-by-softbank-others|access-date=2021-09-02|newspaper=Financial Post|date=16 March 2021|language=en-CA}}

In April 2021, Softbank announced plans to acquire a 40% stake in AutoStore for $2.8 billion and in July 2021, it announced it would invest $870 million in the Korean hotel booking platform Yanolja.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-06|title=SoftBank Group to acquire 40% stake in AutoStore for $2.8 billion|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/04/06/business/corporate-business/softbank-autostore-acquisition/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}

In May 2021, Softbank stated it would sell SB Energy India to Adani Green Energy, valuing the unit at $3.5 billion. The sale is speculated to mark a shift in the company's trajectory, moving away from investments in solar energy towards companies dealing with artificial intelligence.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-19|title=India's Adani Green to buy SoftBank-backed SB Energy in $3.5 billion deal|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/indias-adani-green-energy-buy-sb-energy-holdings-35-bln-deal-2021-05-19/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Reuters}}{{Cite news|last=Dvorak|first=Phred|date=2021-05-19|title=SoftBank Sells Renewable-Energy Unit in India|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-sells-renewable-energy-unit-in-india-11621423025|access-date=2021-05-19|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web|last=Burgos|first=Jonathan|title=Adani Green To Buy SB Energy India For $3.5 Billion From SoftBank, Bharti|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanburgos/2021/05/19/adani-green-to-buy-sb-energy-india-for-35-billion-from-softbank-bharti/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Forbes|language=en}} Later that month, Bloomberg reported that Vision Fund could go public via a $300 million SPAC in 2021, listing in Amsterdam.{{Cite web|title=Softbank's Vision Fund could go public in a $300 million SPAC deal, report says|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/softbank-vision-fund-go-public-spac-tech-bloomberg-report-2021-5|access-date=2021-09-02|website=markets.businessinsider.com|language=en}}

In July 2021, Softbank announced that it would acquire the Yahoo Japan brand from Verizon Communications for $1.6 billion.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-07|title=Softbank buys Yahoo Japan brand from Verizon for $1.6 billion|url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20210707/carriers/softbank-buys-yahoo-japan-from-verizon|access-date=2021-09-02|website=RCR Wireless News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=SoftBank buys perpetual Yahoo trademark license for $1.6 billion|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/05/softbank-yahoo-verizon/|access-date=2021-09-02|website=TechCrunch|date=5 July 2021 |language=en-US}}

In August 2021, Son said he would begin to make personal investments alongside Softbank Group's Vision Fund 2.{{Cite web |last=Savitz |first=Eric J. |title=SoftBank CEO to Take Stake in Vision Fund 2 |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/softbank-ceo-to-take-stake-in-vision-fund-2-51628617760 |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=www.barrons.com |language=en-US}}

In August 2022, Softbank said that it sold its entire Uber holdings in April–July 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/08/softbank-sells-entire-stake-in-uber-as-vision-fund-losses-mount.html |title=Japanese giant SoftBank dumps its entire stake in Uber as losses mount at its investment unit |date=8 August 2022 |work=CNBC |first=Arjun |last=Kharpal}} It was also reported that Softbank exited Opendoor in that quarter.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/funds/softbank-posts-23-bln-loss-first-quarter-2022-08-08/ |title=SoftBank posts record net loss on $23.1 bln Vision Fund hit |date=8 August 2022 |work=Reuters |first=Sam |last=Nussey}} Five years after Masayoshi Son’s $100 billion fund entered the financial world to much fanfare, Softbank’s venture firm was crumbling and on the verge of collapse. Its large venture vehicles struggled badly, performing in the bottom of the asset class, and many of Son’s closest associates in the effort had departed from the company.{{Cite web |title=Softbank: Twilight of an Empire {{!}} The Generalist |url=https://www.generalist.com/briefing/softbank |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.generalist.com |language=en}}

In February 2023, Toyota Tsusho announced that it had bought the controlling interest in SB Energy, which would become a subsidiary, alongside Toyota Tsusho subsidiary Eurus Energy.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Andrew |title=Toyota Tsusho swoops for SB Energy set up by billionaire to green Japan post-Fukushima |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/toyota-tsusho-swoops-for-sb-energy-set-up-by-billionaire-to-green-japan-post-fukushima/2-1-1401423 |access-date=22 February 2023 |work=Recharge |publisher=NHST Media Group |date=9 February 2023}}

In April 2023, SoftBank Group Corp. announced it was selling to a Singapore-based company run by Masayoshi Son’s youngest brother its Korea-based early-stage venture capital arm SoftBank Ventures Asia Corp. after suffering billions of dollars in losses from failed startup bets.{{Cite web |title=SoftBank to Sell Korean Venture Arm to Firm Run by CEO's Brother |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/cpi-report-today-march-2023-inflation/card/softbank-to-sell-korean-venture-arm-to-firm-run-by-ceo-s-brother-ChKn8dzVsGhW5KJdKMHw |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

In May 2023, the SoftBank Group announced that losses from the SoftBank Vision Fund had widened 70 percent to a record $32 billion from a year ago.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=SoftBank Vision Fund Posts Record Loss Despite Masayoshi Son Foreseeing Disaster |url=https://observer.com/2023/05/softbank-vision-fund-loss-2022/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Observer |language=en-US}} In another divestiture of assets, SoftBank Group also sold the stake in Fortress Investment Group to Mubadala and Fortress' management.{{Cite web |title=SoftBank sells Fortress stake to Mubadala and management |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/SoftBank2/SoftBank-sells-Fortress-stake-to-Mubadala-and-management |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}

SoftBank Group's Arm filed for an IPO on 21 August 2023 on the Nasdaq.{{cite news |last1=Nerkar |first1=Santul |last2=Clark |first2=Don |date=21 August 2023 |title=Arm, the Chip Designer, Files for an I.P.O. Expected to Be Among the Largest |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/21/technology/chip-designer-arm-ipo-softbank.html |work=The New York Times}}{{cite web |last=Meredith |first=Sam |date=3 March 2023 |title=British chip giant Arm chooses New York listing in a blow to London |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/03/softbanks-arm-and-crh-choose-new-york-listing-in-a-blow-to-london.html |publisher=CNBC}} A few days earlier, SoftBank bought back the 25% stake from Vision Fund for around $16 billion, valuing Arm at over $64 billion.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Ian |last2=Hytha |first2=Michael |date=21 August 2023 |title=SoftBank's Arm Files for IPO That Is Set to Be 2023's Biggest |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-21/softbank-s-arm-files-for-ipo-that-could-be-2023-s-biggest |work=Bloomberg News}} Arm went public on 14 September 2023 raising $4.87 billion at a $54.5 billion valuation, with SoftBank continuing to own 90.6% of the company following the offering.{{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Echo |last2=Sen|first2=Anirban |date=14 September 2023 |title=How SoftBank played it safe in pricing Arm's IPO |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/how-softbank-played-it-safe-pricing-arms-ipo-2023-09-14/ |work=Reuters}}{{cite web |last=Hansen |first=Sarah |date=13 September 2023 |title=Arm IPO: A Dominant Chip Designer but at a 'Very, Very' Lofty Price |url=https://www.morningstar.com/markets/arm-ipo-dominant-chip-designer-very-very-lofty-price |publisher=Morningstar}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/13/business/arm-ipo-pricing.html|title=Arm, the Chip Designer, Raises $4.87 Billion in the Year's Largest I.P.O.|last=Giang|first=Vivian|work=The New York Times|date=September 13, 2023}}

In December 2023, telecommunication and networking company SoftBank Corp, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp, paid $513 million for a controlling stake in Irish technology company Cubic Telecom, in a deal that will net the company’s founders and its private backers a multimillion-euro payout.{{cite web |last1=Nick |first1=Carey |title=SoftBank Corp buys $514 mln majority stake in car software firm Cubic Telecom |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/softbank-corp-buys-514-mln-majority-stake-car-software-firm-cubic-telecom-2023-12-05/ |access-date=5 December 2023}}{{Cite web |title=EY Ireland advises Cubic Telecom on Investment from Softbank |url=https://www.ey.com/en_ie/ey-ireland-advises-cubic-telecom-on-investment-from-softbank2 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.ey.com |language=en-IE}}

In May 2024, Softbank launched a joint venture with healthcare technology company Tempus AI. The aim of the venture was to provide precision medical services in Japan by utilising AI.{{cite web |title=SoftBank Group Establishes Joint Venture "SB TEMPUS" with Tempus for Further Advancements of Japan's Healthcare Through the Utilization of Medical Data and AI |date=26 June 2024 |url=https://group.softbank/en/news/press/20240627 |publisher=SoftBank Group |access-date=15 February 2025}}

On 27 June 2024, Bloomberg reported that SoftBank has invested in the AI search startup Perplexity AI, valuing the company at $3 billion. Perplexity AI, known for its advanced artificial intelligence technology, aims to revolutionize online search experiences. This investment aligns with SoftBank's ongoing strategy to support innovative AI companies, highlighting Perplexity AI's potential in the tech industry. The funding is expected to accelerate the startup's growth and development, further enhancing its AI capabilities and market reach.{{Cite news|title=SoftBank Invests in Perplexity AI at $3 Billion Valuation|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/softbank-invest-search-startup-perplexity-ai-3-bln-valuation-bloomberg-reports-2024-06-27|access-date=2024-06-27|newspaper=Reuters|date=2024-06-27}}

In December 2024, it was reported by CNBC that Softbank plans to invest $100 billion in the US over the next 4 years, with funding coming from various sources controlled by Softbank, including the Vision Fund, capital projects or chipmaker Arm Holdings.{{Cite web |last=Melloy |first=John |date=2024-12-16 |title=Softbank CEO and Trump to announce $100 billion investment in U.S. by firm |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/16/softbank-ceo-to-announce-100-billion-investment-in-us-during-visit-with-trump.html |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=CNBC |language=en}} The investment is said to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure.{{Cite news |date=December 17, 2024 |title=Trump, SoftBank CEO announce $100 billion US investment, in echo of 2016 event |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/softbank-ceo-announce-100-bln-investment-us-during-visit-trump-cnbc-reports-2024-12-16/}}

In January 2025, SoftBank Group, Oracle Corporation, MGX, OpenAI, and other partners established The Stargate Project as a cooperative venture aimed at building AI infrastructure in the US. With an estimated $500 billion in investment, the program seeks to generate 100,000 new jobs in the US by 2029.{{Cite web |last=Seetharaman |first=Deepa |title=Tech Leaders Pledge Up to $500 Billion in AI Investment in U.S. |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/tech-leaders-pledge-up-to-500-billion-in-ai-investment-in-u-s-da506cd4?mod=tech_lead_pos2 |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

In February 2025, SoftBank announced a joint venture with OpenAI called SB OpenAI Japan which would develop "Advanced Enterprise AI" called "Cristal intelligence." SoftBank would spend $3 billion annually to deploy OpenAI solutions across SoftBank companies. OpenAI and SoftBank also agreed to establish a joint venture with 50:50 ownership called SB OpenAI Japan which would "serve as a springboard for introducing AI agents tailored to the unique needs of Japanese enterprises."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=OpenAI and SoftBank Group Partner to Develop and Market Advanced Enterprise AI |url=https://group.softbank/en/news/press/20250203_0 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=SoftBank Group Corp. |language=en}}

In March 2025, SoftBank entered into an agreement to acquire Ampere Computing, a company that produces energy-efficient and high-performance processors meant to enable next-generation cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). This was a $6.5 billion transaction meant to be closed in the latter half of 2025.{{cite web | url=https://group.softbank/en/news/press/20250320_0 | title=Acquisition of Ampere Computing Holdings LLC | date=19 March 2025 }}

As of 30 September 2020, SoftBank ownership is as follows:{{Cite web|url=https://group.softbank/en/ir/stock/ownership|title = Ownership}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SOFTBANK-GROUP-CORP-6492452/company/|title = SOFTBANK GROUP CORP. : Shareholders Board Members Managers and Company Profile | JP3436100006 | MarketScreener}}

• Masayoshi Son (21.25%)
• The Master Trust Bank of Japan investment trusts (10.25%)
• Japan Trustee Services Bank main investment trusts (5.87%)
• JPMorgan Chase (7.45%)
• Citibank (1.4%)
• The Vanguard Group (2.19%)
• Capital Group Companies (2.4%)
• Baillie Gifford (1.36%)

By December 2022, Masayoshi Son’s stake in the company he founded had risen to 34.2% from 32.2% as of the end of September.{{Cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Ming Jeong |last2=Hyuga |first2=Takahiko |last3=Mak |first3=Pei Yi |date=2022-12-08 |title=SoftBank's Masayoshi Son quietly lifts stake to 34%, edging toward buyout |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/12/08/business/corporate-business/masayoshi-son-softbank-control/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}

{{update section|date=September 2021}}

SoftBank's corporate profile includes various other companies such as Japanese broadband company SoftBank BB, data center company IDC Frontier and the publishing company SB Creative. SBI Group is a Japanese financial services company that began in 1999 as a branch of SoftBank.{{Citation |title=Corporate history |url=http://www.sbigroup.co.jp/english/company/information/history.html |place=JP |publisher=SBI}}. Ymobile Corporation is another telecommunications subsidiary of SoftBank, established in 2014. In 2010, SoftBank founded Wireless City Planning (WCP), a subsidiary that planned the development of TD-LTE networks throughout Japan.{{Cite web |title=SoftBank aims at 97% coverage for TD-LTE network, says CTO Yoshioki Chika - Global Telecoms Business |url=http://www.globaltelecomsbusiness.com/article/2973451/SoftBank-aims-at-97-coverage-for-TD-LTE-networksays-CTO-Yoshioki-Chika.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317211005/http://www.globaltelecomsbusiness.com/article/2973451/SoftBank-aims-at-97-coverage-for-TD-LTE-networksays-CTO-Yoshioki-Chika.html |archive-date=17 March 2017 |access-date=7 December 2016 |df=dmy-all}} SoftBank also operates SoftBank Capital, a US-based venture capital company. SoftBank owns the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks professional baseball team. SoftBank also operated in the eco-power industry through subsidiary SB Energy until its sale.

It has various partnerships in Japanese subsidiaries of foreign companies such as Yahoo! (which has resulted in Yahoo! Japan), E-Trade, Ustream.tv, EF Education First and Morningstar. It also has stakes in Alibaba Group and Sprint Corporation.

Other holdings include {{ill|Softbank Corp.|ja|ソフトバンク}}, {{ill|Softbank Vision Fund|ja|ソフトバンク・ビジョン・ファンド}}, Arm Holdings (90.6%), Fortress Investment Group, Boston Dynamics, T-Mobile US (3.3%), Alibaba (29.5%), Yahoo Japan (48.17%), Brightstar (87.1%), Uber (15%), Didi Chuxing (c. 20%), Ola (c. 30%), Renren (42.9%), InMobi (45%), Hike (25.8%), Snapdeal (c. 30%), Fanatics (c. 22%), Improbable Worlds (c. 50%), Paytm (c. 20%), OYO (42%), Ping An Insurance (7.41%),{{Cite web |date=April 12, 2018 |title=Chinese online medical platform Ping An Healthcare and Technology to raise US$1b from Hong Kong IPO |url=https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/2141501/chinese-online-medical-platform-ping-healthcare-and-technology |access-date=2019-12-13 |website=scmp.com}} Slack Technologies (c. 5%), WeWork (c. 46%),{{cite news |last1=C |first1=Priyamvada |last2=Deka |first2=Kannaki |date=17 March 2023 |title=WeWork reaches deals to cut debt, extend maturities |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/wework-reaches-deal-convert-1-bln-softbanks-debt-equity-2023-03-17/ |publisher=Reuters}} ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance (5%), Compass, Inc. (c. 30.1%), AUTO1 Group (c. 20%), Wag (45%), Katerra (c. 28%), Cruise Automation (c. 19.6%), ParkJockey,{{Cite news |title=Softbank Invests in a New-Age Cloud Company |language=en |work=Fortune |url=http://fortune.com/2016/09/14/softbank-invests-9-4-million-in-packet/ |access-date=2018-05-11}} Tokopedia (Indonesia).{{Cite news |title=Tokopedia raises $1.1b from SoftBank, Alibaba to evolve into infrastructure-as-a-service |work=TechinAsia |url=https://www.techinasia.com/tokopedia-raises-11b-softbank-alibaba |access-date=29 July 2019}} There are many more companies which SoftBank has invested in.

{{nihongo|SoftBank Corp.|ソフトバンク株式会社|SofutoBanku Kabushikigaisha}} is SoftBank's telecommunications subsidiary, providing both mobile and fixed-line services. It was called SoftBank Mobile until July 2015, when the Group merged SoftBank BB Corp., SoftBank Telecom Corp. and Ymobile Corporation to reflect its fixed-line and ISP operations.{{Cite web |title=Changes of Corporate Names - SoftBank Corp. - Group Companies - About Us - SoftBank Group |url=http://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/group/sbm/news/press/2015/20150701_01/ |access-date=7 December 2016}}

File:SONY TH291 (1999) 1 (2759751822).jpg

File:Jan14 01.JPG in 2003]]

SoftBank's mobile communications arm began with the formation of Japan Telecom in 1984. The Digital Phone Group (デジタルホン, DPG, three local companies) mobile phone division was formed in 1994, and J-PHONE Co., Ltd. (J-フォン) was formed in 1999 by the DGP/ Digital TU-KA Group merger (DTG, six local companies, not to be confused with TU-KA). Japan Telecom owned a stake of 45.1%.

J-PHONE grew steadily for a decade by introducing new services and enhancements such as SkyWalker for PDC, SkyMelody ringtone download, the Sha-Mail picture mail introduced following camera phones developed by SHARP, the mobile multimedia data service J-Sky modeled after NTT DoCoMo's i-mode, and advanced Java services based on JSCL, modeled after NTT DoCoMo's DoJa based i-appli.

In October 2001, the British mobile phone group Vodafone increased its share to 66.7% of Japan Telecom and 69.7% of J-Phone. On 1 October 2003, the company's name and the service brand changed to Vodafone, while the division was called Vodafone K.K. or Vodafone Japan.{{Cite web |date=24 June 2006 |title=Bill Morrow, Vodafone's turnaround guru, Walks Away |url=http://www.cellular-news.com/story/18440.php |access-date=9 November 2007 |publisher=Cellular-news.com}}

However, in January 2005, Vodafone Japan lost 58,700 customers and in February 2005 lost 53,200 customers, while competitors NTT DoCoMo gained 184,400 customers, while Au by KDDI gained 163,700, and Willcom gained 35,000. While as of February 2005, DoCoMo's FOMA 3G service had attracted 10 million subscribers and KDDI's 3G service had attracted over 17 million subscribers, Vodafone's 3G service only attracted 527,300 subscribers. Vodafone 3G failed to attract subscribers because Vodafone reduced investments in 3G services in Japan in 2002/3; handsets did not fully match the needs and preferences of Japanese customers. At the end of February 2005, Vodafone Japan had 15.1 million customers. By the end of October 2005, the number of subscribers had fallen below 15M. During the same period, NTT DoCoMo gained 1.65 million customers, and KDDI/AU gained 1.82 million customers. Vodafone-Japan had only 4.8% of Japan's 3G market.

Vodafone changed the name of its multimedia data services from J-Sky to Vodafone live! and used J-Sky's principles, technologies, and business models to introduce the WAP-based Vodafone live! in Vodafone's other markets. At the end of February 2005, Vodafone live! had 12.907 million subscribers in Japan. By the end of October 2005, the number of Vodafone live! subscribers had fallen by 138,000.

In March 2006, Vodafone began discussing the sale of the Vodafone Japan unit to SoftBank. Vodafone was unable to satisfy customers. Handsets had user interfaces that differed too much from the Japanese interface and lacked competitive features.

File:(Real) TV on Mobile (397712891).jpg phone on SoftBank]]

On 17 March 2006, Vodafone Group announced it had agreed to sell Vodafone Japan to SoftBank for about US$15.1 billion. On 18 May 2006, the unit was renamed "SoftBank Mobile Corp.", effective 1 October 2006.

On 4 June 2008, SoftBank Mobile announced a partnership with Apple and brought the iPhone (3G) to Japan later in 2008.{{Cite web |date=2008-06-06 |title=念願のiPhoneを獲得した舞台裏 ソフトバンク、トラウマ乗り越える |url=http://bizplus.nikkei.co.jp/colm/nbonline.cfm?i=2008060600805cs&p=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613172826/http://bizplus.nikkei.co.jp/colm/nbonline.cfm?i=2008060600805cs |archive-date=13 June 2008 |access-date=2008-06-07 |language=Japanese}} SoftBank Mobile was the only official carrier of the iPhone in Japan until the release of iPhone 4S in 2011, when au by KDDI began to offer it.{{Citation |title=SoftBank reaches deal with Apple to sell iPhone handsets in Japan this year |date=2008-06-04 |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/04/business/AS-FIN-COM-Japan-iPhones.php |work=International Herald Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608085840/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/04/business/AS-FIN-COM-Japan-iPhones.php |publisher=The New York Times |archive-date=8 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}

SoftBank Corp.'s mobile network operates W-CDMA (UMTS 3G) network ("SoftBank 3G"). SoftBank's 3G network is compatible with UMTS and supports transparent global roaming for UMTS subscribers from other countries.

File:Vodafone Mobile SHOP ikebukuro japan.jpg, Tokyo]]

File:Softbank celltower01.jpg ]]

• 1981: SoftBank Corp. (currently SoftBank Group Corp.) Japan (Yombancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) established. Commenced operations as a distributor of packaged software
• 1984: Japan Telecom was founded.
• 1986: Japan Telecom launches leased circuit services.
• 1986: Railway Telecommunication established.
• 1989: Railway Telecommunication merges with Japan Telecom.
• 1991: Tokyo Digital Phone established.
• 1994: J-Phone starts PDC cellular service in the 1.5 GHz band, 10 MHz bandwidth.
• 1997: J-Phone launches SkyWalker SMS service designed by Aldiscon and Ericsson for PDC
• 1998: J-Phone launches SkyMelody ringtone download service
• 1999: J-Phone launches J-Sky wireless Internet service ten months after NTT DoCoMo's i-mode, which was launched in February 1999.
• 2000: J-Phone launches Sha-Mail (写メール) picture messaging service using the world's first camera phones developed by SHARP
• 2001: J-Phone launches Java service with JSCL library
• 2002: J-Phone launches W-CDMA 3G service for the first time
• 2002: Company name was changed to Japan Telecom Holdings. The fixed-line telecommunications business was also separated to found a new Japan Telecom.
• 2003: J-Phone company name is changed to Vodafone K.K., and J-Sky name is changed to Vodafone live!. Vodafone launches a Japan-nationwide Beckham campaign
• 2003: Company name was changed to Vodafone Holdings K.K.
• 2004: Vodafone K.K. merges with Vodafone Holdings K.K. and the company name is changed to Vodafone K.K.
• 2004: Vodafone relaunches the 3G services in Japan a second time offering mobile phone handsets designed primarily for the European markets
• 2005: Vodafone changes management and relaunches 3G services in Japan a third time
• 2006: Vodafone officially announced it had agreed to sell Vodafone Japan (Vodafone K.K.) to SoftBank for a total of 1.75 trillion Japanese yen (approx US$15.1 billion) in one of the largest M&A transactions in Japan to date
• 2006: SoftBank and Vodafone K.K. jointly announced, that the name of the company will be changed to a "new, easy-to-understand and familiar" company name and brand. Masayoshi Son became CEO and Representative Director of Vodafone K.K.
• 2006: Headquarters moved from Atago Hills to Shiodome to integrate operations with other SoftBank group companies.
• 2006: SoftBank announced that the name of the company will be changed to "SoftBank Mobile Corp." effective 1 October 2006
• 2006: SoftBank started rebranding "Vodafone" to "SoftBank."
• 2006: Vodafone Japan company name is changed to "SoftBank Mobile Corp."
• 2008: SoftBank Mobile releases iPhone in Japan beating NTT DoCoMo
• 2008: SoftBank Mobile joins Open Handset Alliance{{Cite web |date=2008-12-09 |title=announces 14 new members |url=http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/press_120908.html |access-date=2013-10-15 |publisher=Open Handset Alliance}}
• 2010: Softbank purchased 100% of the PHS mobile operator Willcom.
• 2012: SoftBank Mobile unveils the Pantone 5 107SH, a mobile phone with a built-in geiger counter.{{Cite magazine |last=Chang |first=Alexandra |date=29 May 2012 |title=SoftBank Unveils World's First Phone With Radiation Detection |url=https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/softbank-unveils-worlds-first-phone-with-radiation-detection/ |access-date=29 May 2012 |magazine=Wired}}
• 2015: Investment in US-based Social Finance, Inc (SoFi) announced
• 2015: SoftBank Mobile was merged with SoftBank BB Corp., SoftBank Telecom Corp., and Ymobile Corporation to form a new subsidiary, SoftBank Corp., to reflect its new status of providing fixed-line and ISP operations.
• 2018: SoftBank Corp. (TSE: 9434) listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange On 19 December 2018.

THE PREMIUM SoftBank 821SH PG open.jpg|SoftBank 821SH PG

SoftBank 001P Gold01.jpg|SoftBank 001P by Panasonic

ARROWS A 202F SoftBank (2013 .08.17).jpg|SoftBank A202F by Fujitsu

SoftBank 930CA BK001.jpg|SoftBank 930CA by Casio

Softbank 003sh.png|SoftBank 003SH

Vodafone 803T Soul Black open.jpg|Vodafone 803T by Toshiba

Japanese mobile phone.jpg|J-PHONE J-SH07 by Sharp (2001)

Mobile phone evolution Japan1997-2004.jpg|An evolution of J-PHONE and Vodafone cell phones, 1997–2004

Softbank-usim-card-003-ap0wc.jpg|A SoftBank USIM card

Straatbeeld Tokyo juli 2004.jpg|View of Taitō, Tokyo, with a large Vodafone sign in the background (2004)

Mobile Blazer (2724270785).jpg|Mobile Blazer (2008)

Since May 2006, SoftBank's telecommunications marketing and commercials have principally revolved around "Otosan", the canine patriarch of the otherwise human "Shirato" family.{{Cite web |title=Veteran actor Kai-kun retires from SoftBank Otousan role |url=http://www.japanator.com/veteran-actor-kai-kun-retires-from-softbank-otousan-role-32458.phtml |access-date=26 March 2015 |website=www.japanator.com}} "Otosan" translates to father, and the character, a Hokkaido dog, indeed acts as the father of the family, along with the son "Kojiro" (starred by Dante Carver), mom "Masako" (Kanako Higuchi), and daughter "Aya" (Aya Ueto).{{Cite web |last=Griner |first=David |date=12 August 2012 |title=Meet Japan's Most Popular Ad Family |url=https://www.adweek.com/creativity/meet-japans-most-popular-ad-family-151804 |access-date=21 June 2018 |website=Adweek}} The advertising series proved to be popular: CM Research Center ranked the Otousan adverts as the most popular in Japan between 2007 and 2012, based on monthly surveys of 3,000 randomly selected adults.{{Cite news |last=Corkill |first=Edan |date=29 April 2012 |title=Otosan, Japan's top dog |work=Japan Times |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/04/29/general/otosan-japans-top-dog#.VROgDvyUd8E |access-date=26 March 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Corkill |first=Edan |date=29 April 2012 |title=Otosan, Japan's top dog |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2012/04/29/general/otosan-japans-top-dog/ |access-date=7 December 2016 |website=Japan Times Online}}

SoftBank partnered with the Ingress augmented reality game, supporting the branded "SoftBank Ultra Link" in-game item.{{Cite news |last=Shannon |first=Jonathan |date=9 July 2015 |title=Axa reaches millions of people through augmented reality game Ingress |work=Campaign |url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/axa-reaches-millions-people-augmented-reality-game-ingress/1355296}}

SoftBank bought a "team" for the America's Cup. The team was named SoftBank Team Japan, and Yanmar came on board. SoftBank Team Japan raced in the 2017 races held in Bermuda. The team members come from various backgrounds, most of whom were not Japanese.{{cite web|url=http://team-japan.americascup.com |title=Dean Barker: Looking Back At 35th America's Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019003835/http://team-japan.americascup.com/ |archive-date=19 October 2017 }}

The company was the official jersey sponsor of the Japanese national basketball team at the official 2017 Asian Basketball Championship in Lebanon{{Cite web|title=Japan at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2017/Japan|access-date=2021-09-30|website=FIBA.basketball|language=en}} as well as the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

SoftBank has also owned the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, since 2005. The SoftBank logo appears on the jersey, and the team has won seven Japan Series championships under SoftBank, all of which came between {{npby|2011}} and {{npby|2020}}.

In 2015, SoftBank, along with some other companies in Japan,{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=David |author-link=David Turner (journalist) |date=21 March 2007 |title=Japan offers baby bonus to workers |work=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b517bd88-d7e2-11db-b218-000b5df10621.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b517bd88-d7e2-11db-b218-000b5df10621.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 September 2015}} offered a baby bonus for employees who have children. The payments range from 50,000 yen for the first child to 5 million yen for the fifth child.{{Cite news |title=Cash for Kids: Japan's Employers Offer "Baby Bonuses" |work=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3254035 |url-status=dead |access-date=29 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930092314/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3254035 |archive-date=30 September 2015 |df=dmy-all}}{{Cite web |date=2015-09-30 |title=Cash for Kids: Japan's Employers Offer 'Baby Bonuses' - ABC News |website=ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3254035 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930092314/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3254035 |archive-date=2015-09-30 |access-date=2019-02-11}}{{Cite web|title=A shrinking work force solution: Baby bonuses|url=https://businessrecord.com/PrintArticle.aspx?aid=46958&uid=1b8beebe-eb32-438e-8ee0-377b510bf896|access-date=2021-09-30|website=businessrecord.com}}

{{Main|SoftBank Vision Fund}}

SoftBank Investment Advisers oversees SoftBank's Vision Fund, created in 2017, which invests in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and the internet of things.{{Cite news |title=SoftBank's $100 Billion Vision Fund Is Run by These 10 Men |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-27/softbank-s-100-billion-vision-fund-is-run-by-these-10-men |access-date=2019-01-16 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=27 September 2018 }} It intended to develop a portfolio of 125 AI companies.{{Cite web |last=Brooker |first=Katrina |date=2019-01-14 |title=The most powerful person in Silicon Valley |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90285552/the-most-powerful-person-in-silicon-valley |access-date=2019-01-16 |website=Fast Company |language=en-US}} According to the fund and Son, it also invested in companies to revolutionize real estate, transportation, and retail. Son claimed he would make personal connections with the CEOs of all companies funded by Vision Fund in order to boost synergies among them.{{Cite web |last=Sherman |first=Alex |date=2018-08-01 |title=Masayoshi Son building Vision Fund into family, say founders |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/01/masayoshi-son-vision-fund-family-synergy.html |access-date=2019-01-16 |website=CNBC}} Son’s original plans were to raise $100 billion for a new fund every few years, investing about $50 billion a year in startups.{{Cite web |last=Ghurye |first=Shruti |date=2019-02-07 |title=Masayoshi Son: Betting big and winning |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/02/07/national/history/masayoshi-son-betting-big-winning/#.XHDq66IzbIX |access-date=2019-02-07}} By 2023, after the launch of Vision Fund 1 and 2, the dismal performance{{Cite web |last=Linares |first=Maria Gracia Santillana |title=SoftBank Puts Blockchain Investments On Ice As Part Of Startup Pullback |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/2023/02/23/softbank-puts-blockchain-investments-on-ice-as-part-of-startup-pullback/ |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} of SoftBank’s funds had cast a shadow over the initial exuberance of both Masayoshi Son and his company regarding its huge, largely unprofitable intercorporate investments{{Cite web |title=Accounting for Intercorporate Investments: What You Need to Know |url=https://www.investopedia.com/articles/fundamental-analysis/11/accounting-intercorporate-investment.asp |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Investopedia |language=en}}{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2023}} that had become the main mission, vision and purpose of the entire SoftBank Group.{{Cite news |date=2023-02-07 |title=Breakingviews - SoftBank is paying for Son's past exuberance |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/softbank-is-paying-sons-past-exuberance-2023-02-07/ |access-date=2023-02-12}}{{Cite news |date=2023-02-05 |title=SoftBank CEO to Skip Earnings Call for First Time as Tech Slumps |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-05/softbank-ceo-masayoshi-son-to-skip-earnings-call-as-losses-mount |access-date=2023-02-12}}{{Cite news |date=2023-02-15 |title=SoftBank's future rests on Arm |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3b415060-13f1-4248-9d36-fe6c2bf0c879 |access-date=2023-02-15}}

SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) was the global early-stage venture capital arm of the SoftBank Group{{Cite news|date=2019-03-10|title=SoftBank's Son finds more love for early-stage investing, new fund planned|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-softbank-group-korea-idUSKBN1QR0XZ|access-date=2021-10-28}} The firm focused on early-stage ICT investments – including Artificial Intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), and smart robotics.{{Cite web|last=Ji-young|first=Sohn|date=2019-01-28|title=[Herald Interview] Rebranded SoftBank Ventures Asia to form new fund for AI startups in Asia|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190128000527|access-date=2021-10-28|website=The Korea Herald|language=en}} By October 2021, SBVA had backed more than 250 companies in 10 countries with US$1.3 billion fund under management.{{Cite web|date=2021-09-14|title=Funding, talent & decision-making are the biggest challenges for innovators, says SoftBank Ventures Asia's JP Lee [Q&A]|url=https://technode.global/2021/09/14/funding-talent-decision-making-challenge-innovators-softbank-ventures-asia-jp-lee-qa/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=TechNode Global|language=en-US}}

SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) was founded in 2000 as SoftBank Ventures Korea and began its focus on South Korean market and its early-stage ventures. SBVA’s one of the early investments in South Korea included Nexon Co, now a Korean-Japanese gaming publisher that was the largest IPO in Japan for 2011.

SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA) expanded its focus beyond South Korea since 2011 and made several notable investments in Southeast Asia,{{Cite web|title=SoftBank Ventures Asia hits $341m second close for early-stage fund|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Startups/SoftBank-Ventures-Asia-hits-341m-second-close-for-early-stage-fund|access-date=2021-10-28|website=Nikkei Asia|language=en-GB}} such as Tokopedia,{{Cite web|last=Horwitz|first=Josh|date=2013-06-12|title=Tokopedia Lands Funding To Help It Become Indonesia's Alibaba|url=https://thenextweb.com/news/indonesias-c2c-marketplace-tokopedia-receives-investment-from-softbank-ventures-korea|access-date=2021-10-28|website=TNW {{!}} Asia|language=en}} an Indonesian e-commerce platform, and Carro, Singapore's used-car platform.{{Cite web|title=Asia Solutions|url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/technology/singapore-car-marketplace-carro-scores-us60m-in-series-b-funding|access-date=2021-10-28|website=www.businesstimes.com.sg|date=14 May 2018 }} In 2018, SBVA launched a $300m venture fund ‘China Venture Fund I’, targeting Chinese start-ups,{{Cite news|last=Sender|first=Henny|date=2018-09-25|title=TPG partners with SoftBank Ventures Korea for $300m China fund|work=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/cd882778-c0a5-11e8-95b1-d36dfef1b89a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/cd882778-c0a5-11e8-95b1-d36dfef1b89a |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=2021-10-28}} then immediately trailed by ‘SoftBank Acceleration Fund’ with $300M the following year. With continuous investment across Asia and beyond, the company renamed itself as SoftBank Ventures Asia to reflect its broadened focus on startups in the Asia-Pacific region beyond South Korea, and opened offices in Seoul,{{Cite web|last=Min-kyung|first=Jung|date=2019-01-03|title=Softbank Ventures Korea rebrands as Softbank Ventures Asia|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20190103000509|access-date=2021-10-28|website=The Korea Herald|language=en}} Singapore, and Beijing.

With the company’s extended expertise in ICT investment, SBVA is aiming towards two investment themes, which were ‘technology innovation’ in AI, Robotics, Semiconductor, Mobility, and AR/VR, and ‘market innovation’ in consumer, enterprise, shared economy, healthcare, etc. SBVA created $160M ‘future innovation fund’ in March 2021, focusing on AI start-ups{{Cite web|date=2021-03-24|title=소프트뱅크벤처스, AI 스타트업 투자 1천800억 펀드 조성|url=https://www.hankyung.com/it/article/202103246380Y|access-date=2021-10-28|website=hankyung.com|language=ko}} and made investment in AI sector including VoyagerX, AI software developer,{{Cite web|last=Byung-wook|first=Kim|date=2021-06-23|title=Local AI startup VoyagerX raises $27m from SoftBank, others|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210623000711|access-date=2021-10-28|website=The Korea Herald|language=en}} Upstage AI, AI solution provider, and MarqVision, AI-powered intellectual property (IP) protection platform.{{Cite web|title=Tech in Asia - Connecting Asia's startup ecosystem|url=https://www.techinasia.com/softbank-ventures-asia-leads-5m-round-ip-protection-platforms-marqvision|access-date=2021-10-28|website=www.techinasia.com|language=en-US}}

In April 2023, it was known that Masayoshi Son's SoftBank Group would sell its early-stage venture capital arm SoftBank Ventures Asia to Singapore-based The Edgeof, a newly formed investment firm led by Son's youngest brother, Taizo Son, as SoftBank Group grappled with steep losses in a myriad of investments made around the world.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Kate |date=2023-04-13 |title=As tech slumps, SoftBank sells VC unit to Singapore-based firm led by Masayoshi Son's brother |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/13/as-tech-slumps-softbank-sells-vc-unit-to-singapore-based-firm-led-by-masayoshi-sons-brother/ |access-date=2023-04-18 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} The operation raised governance concerns.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-13 |title=SoftBank unit's sale to founder's brother raises governance concerns |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5835a757-c46a-4449-8dcf-df0274381aba |access-date=2023-04-18}}

{{Portal|Companies}}

• List of conglomerates
• LY Corporation

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation |title=Annual Report |url=http://www.softbank.co.jp/en/irinfo/shared/data/annual_report/2008/softbank_annual_report_2008_001.pdf |df=dmy |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419084807/http://www.softbank.co.jp/en/irinfo/shared/data/annual_report/2008/softbank_annual_report_2008_001.pdf |place=JP |publisher=SoftBank |archive-date=19 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}.

{{Commons category|SoftBank}}

• {{Official website|https://group.softbank/}} (SoftBank Group)
• {{Official website|https://www.softbank.jp/}} (SoftBank)
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4xcm The first photo sent from a phone], BBC Witness History

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