“Apple Inc. has held talks about investing in a $100 billion fund being raised by Japanese internet and telecommunications giant SoftBank Group Corp., a move that would put Silicon Valley cash—and cachet—into what would be the world’s largest technology fund.,” Liz Hoffman and Tripp Mickle report for The Wall Street Journal. “Apple and SoftBank have discussed an investment of up to $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, who cautioned that nothing has been finalized.”
“An Apple investment would connect the world’s most valuable company—Apple’s market value is nearly $600 billion—with one of the world’s largest pools of investment capital,” Hoffman and Mickle report. “The SoftBank Vision Fund, which aims to launch next year, is targeting $100 billion and is seeded by SoftBank, one of Japan’s largest mobile-phone providers and owner of Sprint Corp. It marks an ambitious effort by SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son to position his company as a leader in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, in which everyday objects such as thermostats, watches and cars are connected online.”
“Mr. Son said last week after a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump that he plans to invest up to $50 billion of the fund in the U.S.,” Hoffman and Mickle report. “Earlier this year, SoftBank bought U.K.-based microchip manufacturer ARM Holdings PLC, a major supplier of microprocessors for the iPhone.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The ties between Apple and SoftBank grow even closer.
SEE ALSO:
Softbank to invest $50 billion in the U.S., create 50,000 new tech jobs after meeting with President-elect Trump – and Apple supplier Foxconn is in on the deal – December 6, 2016
President-elect Trump invites tech leaders to roundtable in Manhattan next week – December 6, 2016
President-elect Trump meets with Apple board member Al Gore at Trump Tower in Manhattan – December 5, 2016
President-elect Trump tells Apple CEO Tim Cook that he’d like to see Apple make products in the U.S. – November 23, 2016
President-elect Trump says Apple CEO Tim Cook called him after election victory – November 22, 2016
Apple could make iPhones in the U.S.A. under President Trump, sources say – November 17, 2016
Japan’s Softbank just became one of Apple’s most important suppliers – July 18, 2016
But Apple can’t invest in developing cutting edge technology. Tim Cook is squandering every opportunity to make Apple excel.
King Wrong would make a better name for you.
Troll!
“Earlier this year, SoftBank bought U.K.-based microchip manufacturer ARM Holdings PLC, a major supplier of microprocessors for the iPhone.” I believe this is incorrect. ARM does not manufacture anything, least of all anything going into the iPhone. My understanding is they license technology.
Stop wasting stockholders money. Just give it to the stockholders, they can find a use for it.