SoftBank's lagging AI push draws Elliott's demand for buyback

Japanese tech investment house criticized for not using financial war chest

20240606N Softbank Son

SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son has repeatedly voiced his vision of an "AI revolution." (Photo by Satoko Kawasaki)

MASAYUKI SHIKATA and AKIRA YAMASHITA, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/LONDON --U.S. activist hedge fund Elliott Management is pressuring SoftBank Group to reward shareholders now that the Japanese investment powerhouse has shored up its finances, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Elliott has built up a stake worth more than $2 billion and is pushing the company to conduct a $15 billion stock buyback, according to sources. Based on SoftBank Group's market capitalization of roughly 14 trillion yen ($89.6 billion) at the end of Wednesday's trading, Elliott's share would hover around 2%.

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