SoftBank investors await CEO Son’s cashpile clues in second-quarter report

TOKYO (Reuters) – SoftBank Group Corp shareholders have an $80 billion (£61 billion) question for Chief Executive Masayoshi Son when he presents the Japanese tech investment giant’s earnings on Monday: Just what will he do with that cash, due in from assets sold since March?

They already know not to look for a key profit measure in SoftBank’s July-September report. SoftBank has dropped operating profit as a core measure after its increasing focus on tech investment left the yardstick buffeted by paper revaluations.

Instead, they want details on Son’s long-term plans for proceeds from divested assets including slashing its stake in its namesake domestic telecoms company and selling chip designer Arm in a yet-to-close deal that when included brings funds from sales agreed since March to the cool $80 billion.