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Japanese Carrier Softbank Buys Controlling Interest in Sprint

Sunday October 14, 2012 1:50 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
As was rumored last week, Japanese carrier Softbank is purchasing 70% of Sprint for $20 billion. The deal is expected to be announced tomorrow morning, but the boards of both companies have agreed to the transaction. Softbank will buy $8 billion in shares directly from Sprint, and another $12 billion from existing stockholders at $7.30 per share, a 27% premium from Friday's close.

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The purchase is a huge one for Softbank, which is essentially making a $20 billion gamble that it success in developing LTE wireless services in its home market of Japan can be translated to the U.S. Sprint, while the third largest wireless provider in the U.S., significantly trails the two market leaders, Verizon and AT&T.

Softbank's hope, say people familiar with its strategy, is to build on Sprint's spectrum position, while hoping the company can further consolidate the wireless industry through acquisitions of more spectrum and other operators. The deal is expected to close in roughly six months.
This puts another major carrier in the United States in foreign hands. Verizon is 45% owned by UK carrier Vodafone, T-Mobile is owned by German-firm Deutsche Telekom, and Sprint will now be majority owned by Softbank. There are no details regarding Sprint's branding in the US, or if Softbank will begin promoting itself within the country.

Sprint became the third of the four major U.S. carriers to offer the iPhone upon the release of the iPhone 4S in October 2011, with company executives moving to "bet the company" on the iPhone in committing to purchase more than 30 million iPhones worth $20 billion over the first four years of the partnership. The move has impacted Sprint's financials over the short-term, but the carrier believes that the long-term effects of having the iPhone will be positive.

[ 68 comments ]


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iansilv
90 months ago

Who cares?


I do. That's why I asked the question. See, by asking the question, I answered yours...
Rating: 21 Votes
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w00t951
90 months ago
AT&T should play the patriotism card. "If you want to support your country, select AT&T!*"

*Decent service not included.
Rating: 14 Votes
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FrauHasSpoken
90 months ago
staying american with at&t ;)
Rating: 12 Votes
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puma1552
90 months ago
so the worst of the big three japanese carriers bought the worst of the big three american carriers?

cool strategy
Rating: 10 Votes
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jayducharme
90 months ago

if they want me to stay American, make a better product (You know, like capitalism is designed to do!!!)


In an ideal world that would be true. But these days it seems like capitalism is designed so that huge companies can make huge profits with as little effort as possible. The big telecoms offer similar services at similar prices, as do the cable companies, utilities, gas stations, etc.... There's a happy illusion of choice.

My happy illusion currently is AT&T. ;)
Rating: 8 Votes
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SandboxGeneral
90 months ago

Who cares?


Probably folks who own shares of Sprint stock.
Rating: 7 Votes
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dontwalkhand
90 months ago
I can imagine Americans thinking that Sprint is now owned by a Japanese bank.

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With Softbank's resources, Sprint could expand its LTE market to every major city. That would make their unlimited plans quite attractive if they keep them.


Well we would at least grandfather in to the old ones, and we would have unlimited LTE for a price lower than the other guys!

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Me too. Our communication. Infrastructure is too important to rely on foreign countries.


Too bad that "our communication infrastructure" is now running at the speeds of .002mbps, so if a foreign country can do a better job, have at it. I am not staying with something "American" just because it is American, if they want me to stay American, make a better product (You know, like capitalism is designed to do!!!)
Rating: 6 Votes
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MarqueeK
90 months ago

:confused::confused:

Citibank
Bank of America
TD Bank


I think he means, to have 'Bank' as part of a brandname, you have to actually be a bank.
Rating: 5 Votes
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ChrisTX
90 months ago

er why? Softbank used to distribute "software". That's its original foundation a bank of software. do i think of a river when i see a bank? :confused:


/me Thinks you're reading too much into it. it's fairly obvious, and you know it why people might think "SoftBank" is an actual bank.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Ayemerica
90 months ago

You do know that Verizon is majority owned by Vodaphone right???



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How is Bank Of America operating?



They are an actual bank..
Rating: 3 Votes

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