Softbank's debt fears resurface following a $9.5 billion bailout for WeWork

Concern about SoftBank Group's massive debt load has reared its head again after the company unveiled a $9.5 billion bailout for WeWork this week, hurting its shares and bonds.

While the price tag for SoftBank to rescue the debt-riddled US shared-office startup isn’t seen as big relative to its total investment portfolio, concern is growing about the impact on its leverage. Analysts expect its loan-to-value ratio, a key metric looking at its net interest-bearing debt against the value of investments, to rise as a result of the WeWork acquisition, though they generally see it staying below the company’s target.

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