Jun. 26 at 1:44 AM
SoftBank shares tumbled 11.3% in Tokyo after The New York Times reported that OpenAI is increasingly likely to delay its planned IPO until 2027, pushing back what could have been a major liquidity event for investors. The report said advisers have urged CEO Sam Altman to take a more cautious approach following recent market volatility, the mixed performance of high-profile listings, and persistent concerns over whether AI companies can justify lofty valuations.
OpenAI had previously explored going public as early as the second half of 2026 with a target valuation of up to
$1 trillion, well above its latest private valuation of
$730 billion. According to the NYT, management now prefers to wait for more favorable market conditions rather than accept a lower valuation. SoftBank, one of OpenAI's largest backers through funding rounds and AI infrastructure projects, could face a longer wait for a potential return on its investment if the IPO is postponed.
$SFTBY