Key facts
- Starbucks is exploring strategic options for its Japanese business, including a potential stake sale.
- The Japanese unit's stake sale could be valued between $2.5 billion and $5 billion.
- SoftBank's negotiations for a $6 billion margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake have stalled.
Starbucks is reportedly considering strategic options for its Japanese business, including the possibility of selling a stake. The move follows the company's disposal of a majority interest in its China operations. According to Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the matter, such a stake sale could be valued between ¥400 billion and ¥500 billion ($2.5 billion to $5 billion) and might attract interest from industry players and private equity firms. Meanwhile, SoftBank Group's efforts to secure a $6 billion margin loan collateralized by its stake in OpenAI have reportedly stalled, though the company is exploring alternative fundraising strategies and has not ruled out revisiting the loan at a later date.