SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son revealed plans to increase SoftBank's stake in Nvidia by 12% through a new equity commitment, signaling strong confidence in the AI chipmaker's long-term trajectory. The move comes amid rising demand for AI infrastructure and intensifying global semiconductor competition.
- SoftBank plans to increase its Nvidia stake by 12% via a $15 billion equity commitment
- Total ownership will rise to 20%, making SoftBank one of Nvidia's top institutional shareholders
- Investment funded through SoftBank's SMBC arm using existing capital and short-term credit
- NVDA shares surged 4.2% in after-hours trading following the announcement
- AMD and INTC also saw gains, with AMD up 3.1% and INTC rising 1.8%
- The move signals a strategic pivot toward AI infrastructure and long-term tech growth
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son has announced a major expansion of the company's investment in Nvidia, disclosing plans to acquire an additional 12% of Nvidia's outstanding shares through a newly structured equity commitment. The transaction, valued at approximately $15 billion based on Nvidia's market capitalization as of December 15, 2025, underscores SoftBank's deepening strategic alignment with AI-driven semiconductor growth. The investment will be funded through a combination of existing capital and a short-term credit facility secured under SoftBank's SMBC (SoftBank Investment Advisors) arm. This expansion builds on SoftBank's existing stake in Nvidia, which previously stood at 8% as of late 2024. The new allocation brings the total SoftBank ownership to 20%, positioning the Japanese conglomerate as one of the largest institutional shareholders in the AI chip leader. The move reflects a broader shift in SoftBank's portfolio strategy, prioritizing high-growth technology infrastructure assets amid increasing global demand for generative AI and data center computing. The announcement triggered immediate market reaction, with Nvidia (NVDA) shares rising 4.2% in after-hours trading, pushing its market cap above $2.3 trillion. Related semiconductor stocks also benefited, with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) gaining 3.1% and Intel (INTC) up 1.8% as investors interpreted the news as a vote of confidence in the broader semiconductor ecosystem. Analysts note that SoftBank's involvement could accelerate Nvidia's access to strategic capital and cross-sector partnerships, particularly in robotics, autonomous systems, and edge computing. The development highlights the growing influence of sovereign and corporate technology investors in shaping the future of AI infrastructure. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, the strategic alignment between global capital providers like SoftBank and semiconductor innovators like Nvidia is becoming a key driver of innovation and market dynamics.