Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. has continued its frenetic deal pace, brokering a $13 billion merger between satellite operators, investing $3 billion in office-sharing startup WeWork Cos. Inc. and taking part in a $500 million fundraising round by online lender Social Finance Inc.
The Tokyo-based telecommunications and Internet behemoth, which last month turned to Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Kirkland & Ellis to handle its $3.3 billion buy of New York-based investment giant Fortress Investment Group LLC, announced late last year the formation of a $100 billion “vision fund” to invest in technology companies. Morrison & Foerster, a longtime legal adviser to SoftBank, was retained to advise the company on that endeavor through Tokyo office managing partner Kenneth Siegel.
