Editing SoftBank Group (section)

{{Short description|Japanese investment holding company}}
{{Redirect|SoftBank|the venture capital fund|SoftBank Vision Fund|the Japanese professional baseball team|Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|J-Phone|iPhone}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = SoftBank Group Corp.
| logo = Softbank mobile logo.svg
| logo_size = 205px
| native_name = ソフトバンクグループ株式会社
| romanized_name = SofutoBanku Gurūpu Kabushiki gaisha
| image = Portcity_Takeshiba.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_caption = Headquarters in [[Kaigan]], [[Minato, Tokyo]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{plainlist|
*{{TYO|9984}}
*[[TOPIX]] Core30 component
*[[Nikkei 225]] component
}}
| former_names = SoftBank Corp. (1981-2015)
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|JP3436100006}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1981|9|3}}
| founder = [[Masayoshi Son]]
| location = Tokyo PortCity Takeshiba
| location_city = [[Minato, Tokyo]]
| location_country = Japan
| key_people = Masayoshi Son (chairman and CEO)
| industry = [[Conglomerate (company)|Conglomerate]]
| products = {{ubl|[[Investment]]|[[Telecommunications]]|[[Internet service]]|[[Internet of Things]]|[[Artificial Intelligence]]|[[Robotics]]|[[E-commerce]]}}
| revenue = {{profit}} {{yen|6.76 trillion|link=yes}} (2023)<ref name="Financial Report">{{cite web|url=https://group.softbank/system/files/pdf/ir/financials/financial_reports/financial-report_q4fy2023_01_en.pdf|title=Consolidated financial report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024|publisher=SoftBank Group|access-date=2024-09-10}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{profit}} {{yen|57.8 billion}} (2023)<ref name="Financial Report"/>
| net_income = {{profit}} {{yen|209.2 billion}} (2023)<ref name="Financial Report"/>
| aum = {{increase}} {{yen|347.7 billion}} (2023)<ref name="Annual Report">{{cite web|url=https://group.softbank/system/files/pdf/ir/financials/annual_reports/annual-report_fy2024_en.pdf|title=SoftBank Group Report 2024|publisher=SoftBank Group|access-date=2024-09-10}}</ref>
| assets = {{increase}} {{yen|46.72 trillion}} (2023)<ref name="Financial Report"/>
| equity = {{increase}} {{yen|13.24 trillion}} (2023)<ref name="Financial Report"/>
| owner = {{plainlist|
* [[Masayoshi Son]] (29.14%)<ref name="Principal shareholders">{{cite web |title=Principal shareholders |url=https://group.softbank/en/ir/stock/ownership |publisher=SoftBank Group |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref>
* [[Master Trust Bank of Japan]] (16.79%)<ref name="Principal shareholders"/>
* [[Trust & Custody Services Bank|Custody Bank of Japan]] (7.02%)<ref name="Principal shareholders">{{cite web |title=Principal shareholders |url=https://group.softbank/en/ir/stock/ownership |publisher=SoftBank Group |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref>
* [[JPMorgan Chase]] (2.01%)<ref name="Principal shareholders">{{cite web |title=Principal shareholders |url=https://group.softbank/en/ir/stock/ownership |publisher=SoftBank Group |access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref>
}}
| num_employees = {{increase}} 65,352 (2023)<ref name="Annual Report"/>
| subsid = {{plainlist|
* SoftBank Group Capital Limited
* SB Pan Pacific Corporation
* [[Alibaba Group]] (14.2%)
* [[Stargate LLC|Stargate]] (40%)
* [[Coupang]]（26.7%）
* [[DiDi]] (21.5％）
* [[Arm Holdings]]
* [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks]]
* SB Investment Advisers (UK) 
* SB Global Advisers
* SB Energy
* [[Graphcore]]
}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://group.softbank/}}
| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes|asn=17676}}
}}

{{Nihongo|'''SoftBank Group Corp.'''|ソフトバンクグループ株式会社|SofutoBanku Gurūpu [[Kabushiki gaisha]]}} is a Japanese multinational [[Investment company|investment holding company]] headquartered in [[Minato, Tokyo]], that focuses on [[investment management]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-08-11 |title=SoftBank Gives Up Pretending It Isn't a Fund |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-11/softbank-earnings-it-s-a-fund-not-a-technology-company |access-date=2023-05-26}}</ref> The group primarily invests in companies operating in [[technology]] that offer goods and services to customers in a multitude of markets and industries ranging from the internet to automation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SoftBank Group Corp. |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Companies/SoftBank-Group-Corp2 |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en-GB}}</ref> With over $100 billion in capital at its onset, SoftBank's [[SoftBank Vision Fund|Vision Fund]] is the world's largest technology-focused venture capital fund. Fund investors included [[sovereign wealth fund]]s from countries in the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crane |first=John |date=21 May 2019 |title=Exposing SoftBank's Hunger for Saudi Blood Money |work=The Startup |url=https://medium.com/swlh/exposing-softbanks-hunger-for-saudi-blood-money-ad2f9ad809bb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Jacky |date=9 May 2018 |title=How Much Is the World's Largest Tech Fund Worth to SoftBank? |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-much-is-the-worlds-largest-tech-fund-worth-to-softbank-1525866666}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SoftBank's Son defends Vision Fund at Saudi conference|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/SoftBank-s-Son-defends-Vision-Fund-at-Saudi-conference|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Nikkei Asia|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The company is known for the leadership of its controversial<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-09-26 |title=First Bitcoin, Now WeWork: Is Masayoshi Son the Worst Investor Ever? |url=https://www.ccn.com/first-bitcoin-now-wework-is-masayoshi-son-the-worst-investor-ever/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=CCN.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elstrom |first=Peter |date=2019-12-02 |title=SoftBank's startup bookkeeping draws scrutiny after WeWork fiasco |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/02/business/corporate-business/softbank-startup-bookkeeping-scrutiny/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-15 |title=Masayoshi Son: Inside the eccentric world of the controversial Japanese billionaire investor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/masayoshi-son-cheng-wei-chinese-didi-chuxing-softbank-group-uber-technologies-saudi-arabia-prince-a8140561.html |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-10 |title=Some suggested slides for SoftBank |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/228162ad-b224-40ce-b3c6-7ca75de9aee4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/228162ad-b224-40ce-b3c6-7ca75de9aee4 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-11-11}}</ref> founder and largest shareholder [[Masayoshi Son]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-05-08 |title=Masayoshi Son's $58 Billion Payday on Alibaba |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-05-07/softbanks-58-billion-payday-on-its-alibaba-investment |access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-24 |title=SoftBank's Woes: A Deep Dive |url=https://arpu.hedder.com/softbank-woes-deep-dive/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=ARPU! |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pollack |first=Andrew |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=2023-02-21 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Its investee companies, subsidiaries and divisions, including several unprofitable [[Unicorn (finance)|unicorns]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2022-08-08 |title=SoftBank cautions longer startup winter if unicorn founders unwilling to cut valuations |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/08/softbank-cautions-startup-winter-may-last-longer-if-unicorn-founders-dont-accept-lower-valuations/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Aaron |last=Pressman |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Some Boston startups backed by Japanese giant SoftBank are floundering |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/04/11/business/some-boston-startups-backed-by-japanese-giant-softbank-are-floundering/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref> operate in robotics, artificial intelligence, software, logistics, transportation, biotechnology, [[robotic process automation]], [[Property technology|proptech]], real estate, hospitality, [[broadband]], fixed-line telecommunications, [[e-commerce]], [[information technology]], finance, media and marketing, and other areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SoftBank Vision Fund: Portfolio returns, investments and strategy |url=https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/softbank-vision-fund-performance |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=pitchbook.com |language=en}}</ref> Among its most internationally recognizable current stockholdings are stakes in [[Arm (company)|Arm]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-07 |title=Arm Sales Rise as SoftBank Targets 2023 IPO for Chip Firm |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-07/arm-revenue-rises-as-softbank-prepares-to-take-chip-firm-public |access-date=2023-02-21}}</ref> (semiconductors), [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-13 |title=SoftBank moves to sell down most of its Alibaba stake |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/15d54d29-ba32-4cd5-8002-5279b77d6e4a |access-date=2023-04-13}}</ref> (e-commerce), [[Oyo Rooms|OYO Rooms]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Manish |date=2022-09-22 |title=SoftBank cuts internal valuation of $10 billion Oyo to $2.7 billion |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/22/softbank-slashes-oyos-valuation-to-2-7-billion/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> (hospitality), [[WeWork]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-11 |title=Fidelity, After Becoming WeWork's Second-Largest Shareholder, Adds to Stake Once Again |url=https://www.costar.com/article/831260876/fidelity-after-becoming-weworks-second-largest-shareholder-adds-to-stake-once-again |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=CoStar}}</ref> (coworking) and [[Deutsche Telekom]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-07 |title=Deutsche Telekom raises stake in T-Mobile US, swaps shares with Softbank |language=en |work=Fierce Wireless |url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/financial/deutsche-telekom-raises-stake-t-mobile-us-swaps-shares-softbank |access-date=2023-02-21}}</ref> (telecommunications). SoftBank Corporation, its spun-out affiliate and former flagship business, is the [[List of mobile network operators of the Asia Pacific region#Japan|third-largest wireless carrier in Japan]], with 45.621 million subscribers as of March 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Number of subscribers by Carriers｜TCA|url=http://www.tca.or.jp/english/database/index.html|publisher=Tca.or.jp}}</ref>

SoftBank was ranked in the 2024 [[Forbes Global 2000]] list as the 461st largest public company in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=MURPHY |first1=ANDREA |last2=SCHIFRIN |first2=MATT |title=Forbes 2024 Global 2000 List - The World's Largest Companies Ranked |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

The logo of SoftBank is based on the flag of the [[Kaientai]], a naval trading company founded in 1865, near the end of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], by [[Sakamoto Ryōma]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Origin of Brand Name and Logo |work=SoftBank Group |url=https://group.softbank/en/corp/about/identity/ |access-date=2018-09-26 |publisher=SoftBank Group Corp.}}</ref>

Although SoftBank does not affiliate itself to any traditional [[keiretsu]], it has close ties with [[Mizuho Financial Group]], its primary lender.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SoftBank in talks with Mizuho and Japan banks for $2.8bn loan |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/SoftBank2/SoftBank-in-talks-with-Mizuho-and-Japan-banks-for-2.8bn-loan |access-date=2019-11-23 |website=Nikkei Asian Review |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On January 21, 2025, it was announced that Softbank, along with [[OpenAI]] and [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], would launch what was announced to be an artificial intelligence infrastructure system in conjunction with the [[Federal government of the United States|US government]], titled [[Stargate LLC|Stargate]]. The project is estimated to cost $500 billion. [[Donald Trump|President Trump]] stated that the infrastructure was developed to have American-made AI in the United States. The project will be funded over the course of the next four years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Jennifer |date=2025-01-22 |title=Trump announces up to $500 billion in private sector AI infrastructure investment - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-announces-private-sector-ai-infrastructure-investment/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>