SoftBank on Friday announced its second Vision Fund to invest into technology firms developing artificial intelligence technologies around the world, saying it has secured memoranda of understanding for about 108 billion U.S. dollars from companies including Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp.

The Japanese group itself plans to invest 38 billion U.S. dollars in the fund, it said in a statement. Others set to join include Taiwan's iPhone assembler Foxconn, formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, as well as units of Japan's three mega banks, MUFG, SMFG and Mizuho, SoftBank said.

SoftBank said in May the first fund has generated a 45 percent internal rate of return for investors in its common shares, or 29 percent when debt-like preferred shares are included - although the gains are mostly unrealized.

The first Vision Fund launched two years ago with 60 billion U.S. dollars in backing from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi and has already burned through much of its capital with investments in over 80 late-stage tech startups.

Following bets on startups include Uber Technologies Inc and WeWork parent The We Company by the first fund, the new fund should allow SoftBank to continue a spending spree that has reshaped the venture capital industry as it outguns less capitalized rivals.

Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi were absent from the list of the second fund's investors. SoftBank said it was still talking to more potential investors and that it expected the fund's anticipated capital to grow further.

(With input from Reuters)