Private Equity

SoftBank to lend founder and staff $20bn to invest in new fund

Unusual setup doubly exposes the Japanese company to a startup economy that is starting to show cracks

SoftBank is leaning on its employees, including chief executive Masayoshi Son, for cash as the firm rushes to raise an ambitious technology fund amid volatile markets.

The Japanese company plans to lend up to $20bn to its employees to buy stakes in its second giant venture capital fund, people familiar with the matter said. Son may account for as much as $15bn of that amount, some of the people said.

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