SoftBank travels towards the IPO of records. The group intends to place 1,76 billion shares of Softbank Corp., its mobile phone division, on the market at a price of 1.500 yen per share. Calculator in hand, this means that the debut on the stock lists – scheduled for next 19 December – should bring in cash flows of over 20 billion euro. This is a record level, which also beats the record established in 1987 on the Nikkei by the telecommunications giant Ntt.
Given the solidity of demand, Softbank has decided to place an additional 160 million shares on the market, bringing the total to 1,76 billion shares or about 2.646 billion yen in absolute values.
Investors' enthusiasm does not seem to have been dampened even by the turbulence of recent days in light of the Sino-American trade tensions and the Huawei case.
With the decision to place the telecommunications division on the market, the group of billionaire Masayoshi Son aims to offer greater clarity to the market by distinguishing its activities at a time when Softbank Group appears intent on accelerating investments on a global scale.
Indeed, SoftBank wants to accelerate its transformation into a financial group with investments in various companies. The group controls a fund, the Vision Fund, endowed with 100 billion dollars, to which Saudi Arabia contributes 45 billion. Invests in innovative technology companies around the world. After the IPO, Softbank Group will continue to own 63% of Softbank Corp.
