{"id":661048,"date":"2013-05-30T10:06:40","date_gmt":"2013-05-30T14:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/?p=650491"},"modified":"2013-05-30T10:06:40","modified_gmt":"2013-05-30T14:06:40","slug":"dish-raises-bid-for-clearwire-as-sprint-buyout-comes-down-to-the-wire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/661048","title":{"rendered":"Dish raises bid for Clearwire as Sprint buyout comes down to the wire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tensions have risen even further in the four-way stand off<\/a> between Sprint, Clearwire, Dish Network and SoftBank. On the eve of a shareholder vote determining whether Sprint will take over Clearwire, Dish has upped its bid for the WiMAX operator by 29 percent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dish is now offering $4.40 a share for Clearwire, representing $1.10 more than its initial proposal<\/a> and a huge premium over Sprint\u2019s most recent offer of $3.40 a share<\/a>. Dish\u2019s deal values Clearwire at $6.3 billion, but unlike Sprint, Dish wouldn\u2019t necessarily take complete control over the company. Dish said it is willing to settle for a minority stake as long as it can get 25 percent of the company.<\/p>\n

Sprint was already on shaky ground going into Friday\u2019s vote as many of Clearwire\u2019s institutional investors have been agitating for better terms<\/a>. Dish\u2019s new offer definitely complicates Sprint\u2019s takeover plans even further. Dish said it would formally submit its offer to Clearwire shareholders at tomorrow\u2019s meeting, forcing a standoff between it and Sprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Special Committee of Clearwire\u2019s board of directors has received Dish Network\u2019s offer and will review it to determine the best course of action for the company and its stockholders,\u201d read a statement issued by Clearwire late Wednesday. \u201cThe Special Committee has not made any determination to change its recommendation of the current Sprint transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dish and Sprint aren\u2019t just battling over Clearwire. Dish is trying to take over Sprint as well, challenging SoftBank\u2019s $20.1 billion buyout of the U.S. carrier. Sprint and Softbank are gradually getting the necessary regulatory approvals<\/a> to finalize their deal, but Sprint is formally weighing Dish\u2019s offer<\/a>. When Sprint holds its own shareholder vote next month to approve the deal, Dish could create similar controversy.<\/p>\n

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