Sprint Corp. (S) has started preliminary conversations to merge with T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS), the latest attempt to consolidate in a market watched closely by U.S. regulators, according to people familiar with the matter.
Update(s):
June 06, 2017: In early-stage discussions between the two wireless carriers, an all-stock deal that would avoid the need for financing has emerged as a potential option, according to people familiar with the matter.
June 26, 2017: Sprint Chairman Masayoshi Son and the cable firms have entered into a two-month, exclusive agreement for discussions through late July, putting merger talks with T-Mobile US Inc. on hold.
August 07, 2017: Sprint Corp.’s (S) resumed talks about a potential merger with T-Mobile US Inc., (TMUS) being held at the same time as discussions with cable companies, shows the lengths billionaire Masayoshi Son is taking to build scale for a wireless carrier facing increasing competition in the U.S.
September 19, 2017: U.S. wireless carrier T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) is exploring taking over rival Sprint Corp (S) in an all-stock deal, after SoftBank Group Corp offered to give up its majority ownership of Sprint, a person familiar with the matter said.
September 22, 2017: T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) is close to agreeing tentative terms on a deal to merge with peer Sprint Corp (S) , people familiar with the matter said on Friday, a major breakthrough in efforts to merge the third and fourth largest U.S. wireless carriers.
September 23, 2017: SoftBank Group Corp., the majority owner of Sprint Corp.,(S) is willing to accept a stock-for-stock merger with T-Mobile US (TMUS) that values Sprint at or near its current market price, according to people familiar with the matter.
October 06, 2017: Sprint Corp. (S) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) are putting the finishing touches on a merger that’s likely to be announced when the wireless carriers report quarterly earnings at the end of October, according to people familiar with the matter.
October 16, 2017: T-Mobile U.S. Inc (TMUS) and Sprint Corp (S) plan to announce a merger agreement without any immediate asset sales, as they seek to preserve as much of their spectrum holdings and cost synergies as they can before regulators ask for concessions, according to people familiar with the matter.
October 20, 2017: Sprint Corp. (S) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) may delay an announcement of their planned all-stock merger until several weeks after they release their quarterly earnings, people familiar with the matter said.
October 25, 2017: Sprint Corp. (S) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) both took the unusual step of canceling their earnings calls this week to avoid questions about their potential merger, a move seen by many as a sign the companies are close to announcing an agreement.
November 02, 2017: T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) and Sprint Corp. (S) are working to salvage their potential blockbuster merger, people familiar with the matter said.
November 04, 2017: T-Mobile (TMUS) today announced that it has ceased talks to merge with Sprint (S), as the companies were unable to find mutually agreeable terms.
April 10, 2018: Sprint Corp. (S) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) have rekindled merger talks, people familiar with the matter said, as the wireless rivals explore a combination for the third time in four years.
April 27, 2018: U.S. wireless carriers T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) and Sprint Corp (S) have made progress in negotiating merger terms and are aiming to successfully complete deal talks as early as next week, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
April 29, 2018: T-Mobile US Inc (TMUS) and Sprint Corp (S) said on Sunday they had agreed to a $26 billion all-stock deal and believed they could win over skeptical regulators because the merger would create thousands of jobs and help the United States beat China to creating the next generation mobile network.
July 11, 2019: Negotiations to complete the merger of T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) and Sprint Corp. (S) are dragging on as the parties haggle over ownership restrictions and other conditions for Dish Network Corp. once it gets assets from the wireless companies, according to people familiar with the matter.