SoftBank is reportedly evaluating European M&A opportunities while it tries to persuade US regulators to allow a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile.
A Forbes report suggests that the Japanese carrier may use some of the billions it is expected to make from the IPO of the Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba (it owns a 37% stake) to make a bid to expand in Europe.
Market speculation has Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) as a target, according to an Investor's Business Daily report, though SoftBank would still need to raise cash to make that happen. Forbes also names Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT) as a potential M&A opportunity for SoftBank Mobile Corp.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is still pushing the idea of further North American consolidation. Late in March, he said that he would would be open to partnering with Dish Network LLC (Nasdaq: DISH). (See Son: Dish Could Be Sprint's Great Ally.)
US Regulators have not yet proven too keen on a hookup with Son's first choice for M&A, T-Mobile US Inc. (See Tough Road Ahead for Sprint/T-Mobile?)
— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading
Regarding the Sprint acquisition: T-Mobile has done a great job positioning itself as the feisty upstart carrier. That's going to make it harder for US regulators to approve the merger.