Sprint is reportedly meeting with five different banks, including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, to expedite its bid for rival T-Mobile. Insiders say that Sprint, which is owned by Japan’s SoftBank, hopes to finance much of T-Mobile’s estimated $50 billion price with corporate bonds. The remaining amount would likely be covered by syndicated loans and convertible bonds. Sprint, which is also working to ease regulatory concerns regarding the deal, is expected to make a formal offer by June or July.
Sprint is also said to be in talks with Mizuho Financial Group and Citibank.
“Sprint is facing a battle ahead with U.S. regulators who oppose consolidation in the wireless market on the basis it would inhibit competition,” reports Reuters. “The company is aware it may have to give up some of its spectrum holdings to win over critics, the source said.”
Opponents to the deal include FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and U.S. antitrust chief William Baer. The two “have pointed to T-Mobile’s success since U.S. authorities rejected a 2011 merger between AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile on the grounds the market needs at least four major players to be competitive,” notes the article.
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