Editing SoftBank Group (section)

===2017–2018===
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."<ref>{{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 }}</ref> On 20 March, SoftBank bought a $300m stake in WeWork.<ref name=":0">{{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}}</ref> On 14 February 2017, SoftBank Group agreed to buy [[Fortress Investment Group|Fortress Investment Group LLC]] for $3.3 billion.<ref name="softbank-fortress">{{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}}</ref> In February 2017, it was announced that [[SoFi|Social Finance Inc.]] was close to raising $500 million from an investor group led by [[Silver Lake Partners|Silver Lake]], including Softbank.<ref name="Rudegeair">{{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}}</ref> On 28 March 2017, the ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that SoftBank Group Corporation had approached [[Didi Chuxing|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.<ref name="nyt-didi">{{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}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="ft-patym-new">{{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}}</ref> On 10 August 2017, Softbank invested $2.5 billion in Flipkart.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Other investors include [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Qualcomm]], [[Arm (company)|Arm]], [[Foxconn]], [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]], [[Larry Ellison]] and [[Mubadala]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The latter agreed to invest $15 billion dollars in the fund, targeting artificial intelligence, communications infrastructure, financial technology, consumer internet, mobile computing and robotics.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> In February 2020, however, a report from ''Wall Street Journal'' stated the fund would only up with less than half of that capital.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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/}}</ref> On 25 August 2017, SoftBank finalized a $4.4 billion investment in WeWork.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On 14 November 2017, Softbank agreed to invest $10 billion into [[Uber]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="ft-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}}</ref> 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 Investment Group|Dragoneer]], Tencent, [[TPG Capital|TPG]] and [[Sequoia Capital|Sequoia]].<ref name="ft-discount">{{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}}</ref>

On 14 January 2018, Softbank's Vision Fund announced to invest $560 million in the German used-car sales portal Auto1.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On 1 March 2018, Softbank's Vision Fund led a $535 million investment in [[DoorDash]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In May 2018, CEO [[Masayoshi Son]] revealed during an earnings presentation that Walmart had reached a deal to buy Flipkart.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On 27 September 2018, Softbank announced the investment of $400 Million in Home-Selling Startup [[Opendoor]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In September 2018, [[Politics of Saudi Arabia#National government|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In November 2018, SoftBank announced it would make an [[Initial public offering|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

In December 2018, SoftBank announced its intention to invest $1 billion on ride-hailing startup [[Grab (company)|Grab]]. Some sources said that the total amount of investment could reach $1.5 billion.<ref>{{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}}</ref>