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EU: Softbank eyes Europe for M&A opportunities

By  |  April 6, 2014

Japan-based telecommunications giant Softbank is reportedly eyeing Europe for possible acquisition targets, according to a source, as the company presses US regulators to secure a merger between its Sprint and competitor T-Mobile.

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    Sources told reporters that Softbank is set to receive funds from the recent IPO of Alibaba. That money would likely be used to rally for a successful Sprint/T-Mobile merger in the US. But should it fail, reports say Softbank could be looking at mergers in the EU.

    The company is considering a possible deal with UK-based Vodafone, reports say.

    Some experts, however, say even with the Alibaba funds, expected to be worth up to $150 billion, Softbank will not likely be able to finance a Vodafone acquisition.

    But the company could pursue other EU telcos, such as Deutsche Telekom, as US giant AT&T seems further away from its rumored interest in an EU expansion, say reports.

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