Asia Express
Softbank, Saudi Arabian Fund Company Jointly Initiate USD100 Billion Fund for IT Startups
May 31, 2017

Softbank and Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund recently announced that they will initiate a fundraising project to obtain USD$100 billion within 6 months, reported Wall Street Journal on May 22. This Fund will offer IT companies and startups around the world over the next 10 years in various areas such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), connected devices, satellites and the integration of computers and humans. Softbank stated that the fund will invest USD 50 billion to American startups and create fifty thousand jobs in America. For the Fund, Softbank would invest USD 28 billion, including its USD 8.2 billion stake in chip maker ARM Holdings Inc. Though Softbank has not yet revealed the detailed plan of its main partner PIF, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, PIF has promised to invest a minimum of USD 45 billion to the Fund, according to the same source.