As Dish and SoftBank duke it out to merge with Sprint, SoftBank raises its offer by $1.5 billion. June 10, 2013 6:04 PM PDT Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's CEO. (Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET) As the battle between SoftBank and Dish over the merger of Sprint increasingly heats up, SoftBank has announced that it will raise its offer to from $20.1 billion to $21.6 billion. SoftBank said that the amended merger agreement will give shareholders a greater value, including greater cash consideration and increased certainty. Under the new agreement SoftBank said it will deliver an additional $4.5 billion of cash to Sprint stockholders at closing, which brings the total cash consideration available to Sprint stockholders to $16.64 billion. This offer would also give SoftBank a higher stake in Sprint -- going from 70 percent to 78 percent. Related stories Justice Department: FCC can proceed with review of Sprint-SoftBank deal Top proxy firm ISS likes SoftBank's offer for Sprint Sprint-SoftBank deal clears U.S. national security review Sprint, SoftBank reportedly reach security deal with U.S. SoftBank gives U.S. right to OK Sprint board member -- report "The amended agreement announced today delivers more upfront cash to Sprint stockholders, while still achieving our goal of creating a well-capitalized Sprint that is better positioned to bring meaningful competition to the US market," SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement. "Our transaction offers significant value for Sprint stockholders and the opportunity to realize that value in just a few weeks, without the risks associated with any other potential transaction." Sprint has been in talks with SoftBank since last October regarding a $20.1 billion offer. But, as the closing date neared, Dish came in with a surprise counteroffer of $25.5 billion. The two companies have carried out a public war of words, each claiming it would be the best buyer for the troubled wireless carrier. The revised merger agreement creates a new deadline of June 18, 2013 for Dish to provide its "best and final" offer.
As Dish and SoftBank duke it out to merge with Sprint, SoftBank raises its offer by $1.5 billion.
Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's CEO.
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)
As the battle between SoftBank and Dish over the merger of Sprint increasingly heats up, SoftBank has announced that it will raise its offer to from $20.1 billion to $21.6 billion.
SoftBank said that the amended merger agreement will give shareholders a greater value, including greater cash consideration and increased certainty.
Under the new agreement SoftBank said it will deliver an additional $4.5 billion of cash to Sprint stockholders at closing, which brings the total cash consideration available to Sprint stockholders to $16.64 billion. This offer would also give SoftBank a higher stake in Sprint -- going from 70 percent to 78 percent.
Related stories
- Justice Department: FCC can proceed with review of Sprint-SoftBank deal
- Top proxy firm ISS likes SoftBank's offer for Sprint
- Sprint-SoftBank deal clears U.S. national security review
- Sprint, SoftBank reportedly reach security deal with U.S.
- SoftBank gives U.S. right to OK Sprint board member -- report
"The amended agreement announced today delivers more upfront cash to Sprint stockholders, while still achieving our goal of creating a well-capitalized Sprint that is better positioned to bring meaningful competition to the US market," SoftBank Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement. "Our transaction offers significant value for Sprint stockholders and the opportunity to realize that value in just a few weeks, without the risks associated with any other potential transaction."
Sprint has been in talks with SoftBank since last October regarding a $20.1 billion offer. But, as the closing date neared, Dish came in with a surprise counteroffer of $25.5 billion. The two companies have carried out a public war of words, each claiming it would be the best buyer for the troubled wireless carrier.
The revised merger agreement creates a new deadline of June 18, 2013 for Dish to provide its "best and final" offer.
