SoftBank fund still has $13b, eyes India deployment

Mumbai: Even as the spluttering $100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund (SVF) grapples with a severe crisis across its portfolio companies globally, compounded further by the coronavirus outbreak, the technology investor is on a lookout to snag new deals in India, a top executive at the Japanese firm told ET. Rajeev Misra, who oversees the Vision Fund as its CEO, said the firm has $13 billion in unspent capital, a part of which they are in talks to deploy in India amid doubts about the group’s ability to plough new funds in companies.

“We are actively looking at India, to invest at the right valuation. SVF1 and 2 are both interested in buying secondary positions from early-stage investors who are wanting to exit as their fund lives come to an end. Next three months, we will announce deals as currently we are in mid stages of talking to 15-20 companies for both secondary and primary investments…” Misra said.