Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group is attempting to take advantage of investor appetite for both special-purpose acquisition companies (Spacs) and technology shares, says Tim Culpan on Bloomberg.
The Spac will comprise money from public investors, SoftBank’s flagship Vision Fund and funds from selling additional debt. The resulting pool of capital can then be used to buy private companies. The new vehicle will mark the first time that private investors will be allowed to participate directly in SoftBank’s venture capital investments; they won’t be obliged to suffer “a massive conglomerate discount” by investing in the wider company.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Investors should also beware, says Lex in the Financial Times. The simplified listing around Spacs typically leads to “lower levels of scrutiny”, with one recent study suggesting that Spacs’ returns have lagged the market over the last two years. This is a particular concern given SoftBank’s “history of opaque trades and governance”.
-
Rightmove: Asking prices set to rise 2% in 2026 after post-Budget market reboundBuyers and sellers who held off in anticipation of the Budget will come back to the market and contribute to asking prices increasing next year, according to Rightmove
-
Coreweave is on borrowed timeAI infrastructure firm Coreweave is heading for trouble and is absurdly pricey, says Matthew Partridge
-
Coreweave is on borrowed time
AI infrastructure firm Coreweave is heading for trouble and is absurdly pricey, says Matthew Partridge
-
Renewable energy funds are stuck between a ROC and a hard placeRenewable energy funds were hit hard by the government’s subsidy changes, but they have only themselves to blame for their failure to build trust with investors
-
Profit from document shredding with RestoreRestore operates in a niche, but essential market. The business has exciting potential over the coming years, says Rupert Hargreaves
-
The war dividend – how to invest in defence stocks as the world arms upWestern governments are back on a war footing. Investors should be prepared, too, says Jamie Ward
-
Literacy Capital: A trust where great returns fund a good causeThere’s plenty to like about specialist private-equity trust Literacy Capital, says Max King
-
An AI bust could hit private credit – could it cause a financial crisis?Opinion Private credit is playing a key role in funding data centres. It may be the first to take the hit if the AI boom ends, says Cris Sholto Heaton
-
8 of the best ski chalets for sale nowThe best ski chalets on the market – from a traditional Alpine-style chalet in Switzerland to an award-winning Modernist building in Japan’s exclusive ski areas
-
Did COP30 achieve anything to tackle climate change?The COP30 summit was a failure. But the world is going green regardless, says Simon Wilson
