SoftBank to Spin Off Telecom Unit in $21 Billion IPO
*By Carlo Versano*
SoftBank Group, the Japanese multinational conglomerate with stakes in some of the hottest U.S. tech start-ups, is planning a massive IPO for its telecom arm that could become Japan's largest public offering to date, [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-12/softbank-unveils-21-billion-ipo-of-mobile-business?srnd=premium) reported Monday.
SoftBank Founder Masayoshi Son is reportedly seeking $21 billion for the new entity that will be called SoftBank Corp. and begin trading Dec. 19. Citing the prospectus, Bloomberg said the company will offer 1.6 billion shares at 1,500 yen a piece, or roughly $13. That figure could change as the range of the offering is set.
Son has used his $100 billion Vision Fund to transform SoftBank into a holding company with stakes in some of the world's most valuable technology companies, including Uber, WeWork, and Alibaba ($BABA). Softbank's telecom and mobile operation has long been the company's bread and butter, and spinning it off will give Son room to further position himself as a tech kingmaker.
Paul Dergarabedian, Head of Marketplace Trends for Comscore, joins to discuss Disney earnings, industry leadership shifts and the 2026 box office outlook today.
The new space race isn't about just astronauts, it's about data. Hawkeye 360 CEO John Serafini on satellites, national security, and the company's recent IPO.
Voyager Technologies CEO Dylan Taylor discusses the booming commercial space race, NASA partnerships, defense tech, and building the future beyond Earth.
Inflation is outrunning growth, squeezing consumers and raising fear of a summer slowdown as high rates and sticky prices test spending and markets today now.
TIME's editorial director Emma Barker unpacks the 2026 100 Most Influential Companies list, spotlighting trends, AI impact, surprises, and leadership shifts.
