TOKYO — Vision Fund 2 doubled its investment allocation to $40 billion between the end of March and June 18, according to documents released during SoftBank’s shareholders meeting June 23.
The Japanese investment bank SoftBank Group’s second Vision Fund is on an investment binge, adding on average one new startup target per day, according to reports today.
Vision Fund 2’s investment plans cover a total of 129 companies as of June 18, the Japanese tech group’s data shows, with 34 new targets added over the prior monthlong period.
The company reported that the fast pace of recent acquisitions is driven partly by a recovery in the funds’ earnings. The Vision Fund business booked more than 6.35 trillion yen ($57.4 billion) in net investment gains for the financial year ended in March. The listings of multiple targets, such as South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang, greatly added to the valuation profit.
Investments in 85 targets have been finalized, with another 44 companies approved by the investment committee.
SoftBank’s second Vision Fund looks set to surpass the 92 companies in the first fund’s portfolio.
SoftBank has a 25 per cent holding in Alibaba and the Chinese group still accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the total value of SoftBank’s holdings.
SoftBank and Smart Africa will begin their collaboration by identifying demand for NTN solutions and conducting further feasibility studies in the five African countries that have already expressed interest in the Bulk Capacity Purchase Project (the Republic of Djibouti, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Kenya, the Kingdom of Morocco, and the Republic of Rwanda). SoftBank and Smart Africa will also draw up implementation plans and consider potential market entries in the future.
