Elliott Investment Management Pushes SoftBank for $15bn Share Buyback After Rebuilding $2bn Stake

Activist hedge fund Elliott Investment Management is once again urging SoftBank Group to initiate a significant $15bn share buyback programme, following the firm’s rebuild of a stake in the Japanese technology investor now valued at over $2bn, according to a report from the Financial Times.

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Elliott has been in direct discussions with SoftBank’s senior management over the past two to three months, advocating for the buyback. Elliott argues that such a move would signal CEO Masayoshi Son’s confidence in his strategic direction, while also providing an immediate boost to SoftBank’s stock price.

This marks the second time that Elliott has pressed for a buyback from SoftBank. In 2020, the firm built a $3bn stake in the company and successfully pushed for a $20bn share repurchase. After SoftBank announced plans to buy back approximately 15% of its shares, Elliott sold its position following the company's announcement of a JPY1tn ($6.42bn) repurchase scheme. The ongoing efforts highlight Elliott's ongoing focus on enhancing shareholder value and its active engagement with SoftBank’s leadership.