Matthew Wolf - What Is the SoftBank Group?

Nihon SoftBank was established in 1981 by Masayoshi Son as a software bank to serve the infrastructure of the newly emerging information society being built in Japan. In May 1982 the company launched Oh! PC and Oh! MZ magazines that exclusively targeted engineers and manufacturers, with the publications’ unique style attracting significant public attention.

1. Matthew Wolf - What Is the SoftBank
Group?
Nihon SoftBank was est ablished in 1981 by Masayoshi Son as a soft ware b ank to ser ve the infrastructure of the newl y
emerging infor mation societ y being buil t in Jap an . Now known as SoftBank Group Cor p ., the comp any has evol ved into a
glob al technology power house with a vision to power the wor ld ' s most impor t ant technologies .

2. Early History of SoftBank
1
1981: Establishment
Nihon SoftBank was est ablished by Masayoshi Son as a
soft ware b ank to ser ve the infrastructure of the newl y
emerging infor mation societ y being buil t in Jap an .
2
1982: Magazine Launch
In May 1982 the comp any launched _ Oh ! PC _ and _ Oh !
MZ _ magazines that exclusivel y t argeted engineers and
manufacturers , with the public ations ' unique st y le
attracting signific ant public attention .
3
1996: Yahoo Japan Corporation
SoftBank est ablished Yahoo Jap an Cor poration through
a joint investment with Yahoo ! Inc . in the United St ates
in 1996.
4
1998-1999: Corporate Restructuring
In 1998 split its divisions into sep arate comp anies ,
becoming a pure holding comp any the following ye ar .

3. SoftBank's Recent Acquisitions
and Investments
1
ARM Holdings
Acquisition
In 2016, in anticip ation of
the Inter net of Things era ,
SoftBank Group Cor p
acquired the UK - b ased
ARM Holdings as a
subsidiar y .
2
SoftBank Vision Fund
In 2017 the SoftBank Vision
Fund was cre ated to invest
in comp anies with the
potential to br ing about an
AI revolution .
3
Latin American Innovation Fund
A new fund was later est ablished in 2019 aiming to dr ive
innovation via technologies in quickl y developing Latin
Amer ic an comp anies .

4. SoftBank's Vision and Mission
Visionary Leadership
Matt hew Wolf ( Switzer land ) believes that SoftBank ' s
CEO , Masayoshi Son , is a visionar y ; this is reflected in
SoftBank ' s overarching mission to become a cor porate
group that powers the wor ld ' s most impor t ant
technologies .
Empowered World
To achieve this , the comp any aims to develop a more
empowered , connected and joy ful wor ld by using
technology to accelerate human progress .
Information Revolution
SoftBank remains focused on dr iving the Infor mation
Revolution and ad vancing AI through investment in the
wor ld ' s most innovative business models as well as
essential technologies .
Long-term Vision
The comp any unveiled ' Softb ank ' s Nex t 30- Ye ar
Vision ' in 2010, which looks for ward 100 ye ars into the
future .

5. SoftBank's Sustainable Growth Strategy
Ecosystem of Portfolio Companies
SoftBank is building an ecosystem
by power ing and connecting a
net wor k of industr y - shaping ,
innovative technology comp anies
that contr ibute to e ach other ' s
growth .
Financial Capital
SoftBank seeks high - growth
oppor tunities , allowing it to achieve
signific ant retur ns on its investment
and subsequentl y retur n c apit al to
shareholders and reinvest profits .
Human Capital
The comp any ' s human c apit al br ings
wor ld - class t alent and ex tensive
exper tise in suppor t of SoftBank ' s
glob al por tfolio .

6. SoftBank's Core Values
No.1
SoftBank aims to be the le ader in its field .
Challenge
The comp any embraces challenges and
pushes boundar ies .
Reverse Planning
SoftBank uses strategic planning to
achieve its go als .
Speed
The comp any values quick decision -
making and execution .
One of the comp any ' s core values is ' Tr y hard , have fun ,' along with ret aining a focus
on SoftBank ' s keywords – No .1, challenge , reverse planning , tenacit y and speed – in
order to achieve its go al to keep growing for the nex t 300 ye ars .

7. SoftBank's Historical Timeline
1
1981
Nihon SoftBank est ablished by Masayoshi Son
2
1982
Launch of _ Oh ! PC _ and _ Oh ! MZ _ magazines
3
1996
Est ablishment of Yahoo Jap an Cor poration
4
1999
Becomes a pure holding comp any
5
2016
Acquisition of ARM Holdings
6
2017
Cre ation of SoftBank Vision Fund

8. SoftBank's Global Impact
Region Key Investments Imp act
Jap an Yahoo Jap an Cor poration Pioneer ing inter net ser vices
United K ingdom ARM Holdings Ad vancing IoT technologies
Glob al SoftBank Vision Fund Dr iving AI revolution
Latin Amer ic a Innovation Fund Accelerating technologic al
development