Buycomp.com, an Aliso Viejo, California-based company that bills itself as the world’s largest internet-only computer retail store, says it has secured a $40m investment from Softbank Holdings and its affiliates. The investment represents a 9.9% ownership interest in the private company. It’s not the first time the company has dealt with Softbank, however, as affiliate Softbank Technology Ventures had provided an initial and separate investment of $20m – representing a 10.25% stake at that time – in August. Buycomp says that, based on the combined capital it is now valued at $400m, giving it one of the highest pre-IPO valuations in history. The money will allow the company to expand its business model to new online markets. The company wouldn’t give any details on the expansion but promises an announcement within the next couple of weeks. It will involve both beefing up the core computer products business as well as a move into other types of goods. Buycomp boasts that its web site features detailed product information on more than 30,000 hardware and software products that it sells – divided into separate shopping areas such as desktops, notebooks and storage. The company was founded in October of 1996, and has not indicated a specific timetable for an IPO, but said it was dependent upon market conditions.