SoftBank Group Corp

SoftBank Group is a Japanese investment holding company founded and led by chairman and chief executive Masayoshi Son. Its business combines direct investments, operating subsidiaries and investment funds, including the Vision Funds. SoftBank seeks companies and technologies capable of creating large new markets, with artificial intelligence central to its stated direction. Its history spans software distribution, telecommunications, internet businesses and semiconductor design. This structure makes SoftBank different from a conventional stock fund: capital can be committed through corporate acquisitions, private financing and fund investments, and its public securities disclosure captures only part of that activity.

Context SoftBank's backing of WeWork became a major test of its investment judgment and governance. After WeWork's attempted public listing failed, Son acknowledged poor judgment and SoftBank organized a rescue. WeWork later entered bankruptcy. SoftBank also faced litigation over withdrawing a promised share purchase; it reached a settlement with WeWork's special committee and Adam Neumann in 2021.