SoftBank's stock soars nearly 20%, potential dual IPOs for OpenAI and SB Energy boost market sentiment

SoftBank Group Corp.'s stock soared nearly 20% during morning trading in Tokyo on Thursday. This surge followed reports that OpenAI is preparing to file for an initial public offering (IPO), which is expected to bring substantial returns for the Japanese technology giant—one of OpenAI's largest shareholders.

This increase is the strongest single-day performance for SoftBank in recent years, reflecting investors' high enthusiasm for the potential monetization prospects of the conglomerate's vast artificial intelligence investment portfolio. SoftBank holds about 13% of OpenAI's shares and has invested approximately $64.6 billion through its Vision Fund, making it one of the most important capital forces behind this epochal bet.

According to media reports, OpenAI plans to submit its IPO application documents within the next few weeks, with the goal of officially going public this autumn. If the San Francisco-based company, which operates ChatGPT and has become one of the most watched names in the global technology industry, proceeds as planned, it will be one of the most anticipated IPOs of the year.

Another SoftBank portfolio company, SB Energy Corp., announced on Wednesday that it will submit a confidential draft registration statement for a proposed U.S. IPO. The company focuses on developing energy infrastructure for data centers. The simultaneous pursuit of IPOs by both companies highlights SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son's strategic layout in building an interconnected ecosystem—including AI software, computing infrastructure, and even the power systems needed to support both.

SoftBank's stake in OpenAI has become one of the brightest assets in its investment portfolio. Previously, the Vision Fund had been questioned due to poor performance from several early investments. If OpenAI successfully goes public with a high valuation, it will largely prove the correctness of Masayoshi Son's decision to make artificial intelligence the core investment theme of his career.