Cable TV operator Shaw Communications’ (SJR) proposed acquisition of Wind Mobile, Canada’s No. 4 wireless phone company, makes it less likely that new foreign entrants such as Verizon Communications or AT&T (T) will enter the country, analysts say. Verizon (VZ) explored a purchase of Canada’s smaller wireless firms in 2013 but backed off. Shaw’s purchase of Wind, announced late Wednesday, also comes amid speculation that U.S.-based Comcast (CMCSA)
Cable TV firm Comcast (CMCSA) may make it possible for Sprint (S) and T-Mobile (TMUS) to rekindle merger talks, with better odds for regulatory approval. How can Comcast play matchmaker? Sprint shelved negotiations with T-Mobile in mid-2014 after the Obama administration made clear that it wanted a U.S. wireless market with four national players. A Sprint merger with T-Mobile would create a three-player market, including Verizon Communications
Yahoo (YHOO) should forget about the financially risky spinoff of its ownership stake in China e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) and sell its core business to cable giant Comcast (CMCSA) instead, according to an industry report on Friday from Mizuho Securities. “It remains unclear if the Internal Revenue Service will tax the spin-out of Aabaco” (the Alibaba stake), wrote Mizuho analyst Neil Doshi. “But in our view, a taxed transaction