Vision Fund's loss is a massive blow to SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son's attempt to revise his reputation.Toru Hanai/Reuters
SoftBank expects its US$100-billion Vision Fund to book a loss of 1.8-trillion yen ($23-billion) due to the worsening performance of its tech bets, which will tip the group as a whole into its first loss for 15 years.
A third consecutive quarter of losses by the Saudi Arabian-backed fund will push SoftBank Group Corp to an annual operating loss of 1.35-trillion yen, it said in a statement on Monday.
The fund’s dire performance, which SoftBank attributed to “the deteriorating market environment” as markets are hammered by the coronavirus crisis, is a major blow to CEO Masayoshi Son’s attempts to revive his reputation among investors.
SoftBank’s finances are being squeezed after a disastrous bet on co-working firm WeWork and souring portfolio bets on startups that have sacked workers as the outlook has darkened.
The coronavirus pandemic has undermined predictions by Mr. Son, who just two months ago said “the tide is turning” and pointed to recovery at WeWork, forcing him into a major sell down of core assets to raise cash.
SoftBank did not disclose which Vision Fund tech bets were being marked down in the fourth quarter.
Activist investor Elliott Management wants greater transparency at the fund, whose nebulous valuations have contributed to the group’s persistent conglomerate discount.
The tech conglomerate said it would book an 800-billion yen loss on investments outside the fund including in WeWork and satellite operator OneWeb, which last month filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after SoftBank declined to provide further funding, contributing to a net loss of 750-billion yen.
SoftBank sees sales falling 36 per cent after the deconsolidation of wireless carrier Sprint, which merged with T-Mobile US.
The group’s shares, which are down by 11.7 per cent this year, closed down 3.4 per cent ahead of the announcement.
Last month, SoftBank announced its largest ever buyback to prop up the value of its shares, which have been pledged by Mr. Son as collateral for loans.
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