On Friday, a possible deal for T-Mobile US Inc. is being looked at as SoftBank Corp. and Deutsche Telekom AG engages in talks. This was the other alternative seen by the Japanese company to enter the US wireless market in case the deal with Sprint Nextel Corp. does not pursue. This was according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Deutsche Telekom and SoftBank Corp. were discussing last year about a possible agreement for T-Mobile USA and engaged in periodic conversations. Last week, these talks intensified after Dish Network Corp. made a counter offer for Sprint at US$25.5 billion. SoftBank offered to buy Sprint for US$20.1 billion according to same sources.
T-Mobile USA is 74% owned by Deutsche Telekom. Sources said that SoftBank is taking a look to buy the stake. T-Mobile USA is valued in the market at roughly US$15 billion.
Sources, who declined to be named because the talks were private in nature, said that the deal was only Plan B as SoftBank still wants to continue the offered deal with Sprint Nextel.
The shares of T-Mobile USA have increased more than 3% after SoftBank announced interest in acquiring the firm. Meanwhile, Sprint shares fell by 1.2%.
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