TOKYO (Reuters) -S&P Global Ratings cut SoftBank Group Corp’s long-term rating deeper into junk territory on Tuesday, leading the Japanese tech investment conglomerate to push back against the downgrade.
S&P lowered SoftBank’s rating to BB from BB-plus, citing SoftBank’s exposure to unlisted companies that are susceptible to changes in the external environment.
SoftBank has sold down assets including its stake in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to stabilise its balance sheet as the value of its portfolio falters.
“(The sale of its shares) have eroded the proportion of listed assets in its portfolio. Furthermore, the technology stocks in which the company has primarily invested have been depressed for a prolonged period,” S&P said in a note.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son has pledged to play “defence” with prudent financial management amid weakness in tech valuations.
“It is extremely regrettable that our financial soundness was not properly assessed, and we will continue our dialogue with S&P,” SoftBank said in a statement.
S&P said a listing for chip designer Arm, which has become a primary preoccupation for Son, would improve asset liquidity.
“We have strongly urged S&P to consider an upgrade once the proposed initial public offering of Arm is completed,” SoftBank said.
SoftBank previously fell out with Moody’s Investors Service over its assessment of the conglomerate and in 2020 took the unusual step of asking the agency to withdraw its ratings.
(Reporting by Sam Nussey and Satoshi Sugiyama, editing by Ed Osmond)
