SoftBank Group has agreed to pay its highest-ever interest rate on US dollar bonds, highlighting market concerns over its large-scale investments in the artificial intelligence sector. According to a company statement, SoftBank Group issued bonds worth $1.5 billion and €1.75 billion (approximately $2.1 billion) on Wednesday, with part of the funds to be used to repay bridge loans related to its investment in US tech company OpenAI. Among these, the 10-year US dollar bonds carry a coupon rate of 8.5%, marking the highest ever for SoftBank's US dollar bond issuance and surpassing the previous peak set in October last year.