Business
SoftBank profits rise, partly on gains from Saudi-tied fund
By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer
May 09, 2019 02:10 AM
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In this April 15, 2019, photo, people walk under the logo of Japanese telecoms company Softbank Corp. at its mobile phone shop in Tokyo. Softbank said Wednesday, May 8, 209, it will spend 456.5 billion yen ($4 billion) to increase its stake in Yahoo Japan to nearly 45%. The company forecast that with the additional stake in Yahoo, its revenue will rise to 4.8 trillion yen ($43.6 billion) in this fiscal year.
Koji Sasahara
AP Photo
TOKYO
Japanese technology company SoftBank has reported a 36% increase in profit for the fiscal year through March from the previous fiscal year, partly on gains from its Vision Fund.
After the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, SoftBank has said it will diversify its funding source for investments. Much of the Vision Fund money had come from Saudi Arabia.
SoftBank Group Corp., whose mobile subsidiary is boosting its stake in Yahoo Japan to 45% from 12%, said Thursday annual profit totaled 1.4 trillion yen ($12.8 billion).
Chief Executive Masayoshi Son said a second Vision Fund of about the same scale as the first one, counting new investors as well as previous ones, will be announced soon. The exact amount, date and structure of the fund are still undecided.
The first fund totaled about $100 billion in investments. Son told reporters it had been a success.
He said he will continue to invest in artificial intelligence and other technologies that can enhance businesses like ride-sharing and medical services by anticipating demand, or spotting cancer in very early stages.
“AI will work as an innovation for all sectors,” he told reporters, saying the so-called internet revolution had revived just advertising and consumer retailing.
SoftBank is a major investor in Uber Technologies, whose IPO is set for Friday.
SoftBank Group, which has invested in British IoT company ARM, and U.S. wireless company Sprint, offers internet and solar electricity services, and developed Pepper, the talking companion robot.
SoftBank Group shares have gyrated but gradually risen, nearly doubling in value over the last five years.
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