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> The dotcom crash of 2001 wiped out 99% of SoftBank’s market value. > But one investment—$20m sunk into Alibaba—is regarded as one of the best in history. The
by onetimemanytime 9y ago
> The dotcom crash of 2001 wiped out 99% of SoftBank’s market value.
> But one investment—$20m sunk into Alibaba—is regarded as one of the best in history. The Chinese internet titan went public in 2014 in the world’s biggest IPO. SoftBank’s 28% stake in the firm is now worth $140bn.
Frankly that's luck. No doubt he is smart and has smart people working for him but that's pure luck.
All but one gone and that tiny $20 mil investment saves it all.
- thankthunk 9y ago> Frankly that's luck. No doubt he is smart and has smart people working for him but that's pure luck. All investment is "luck" if you put it that way. > All but one gone and that tiny $20 mil investment saves it all. That investment didn't save it all. Softbank was a multibillion dollar company before and after their investment in alibaba. With or without alibaba, they would still be around. Not sure where you are getting the idea that alibaba saved softbank. Softbank's Alibaba stake makes softbank very valuable, but it would be around without alibaba.
- onetimemanytime 9y ago>>Not sure where you are getting the idea that alibaba saved softbank. Softbank's Alibaba stake makes softbank very valuable, but it would be around without alibaba. Without Alibaba they would have lost, say, 100% of their investment in the 90's. Makes a great "trust us with $100 Billion, we have a great record" pitch. Also, "still being around" and worth a lot of money and still being trusted with investment money are two very different things.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]