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Technology Stocks : Softbank Group Corp -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Taikun who wrote (1288)	8/13/1999 4:09:00 AM
From: Edwin S. Fujinaka	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 6018

I think that the Softbank/Microsoft/Tepco Alliance to provide Internet Wireless Access and the Nasdaq Japan deal will be major positive developments over the next year. In the meantime, I expect that Softbank will have generally good success in coming out with new IPOs for some of their holdings. Short of a total Internet meltdown it is hard to see Softbank ending the year lower than it is right now. Softbank closed out the week at around $251 in Tokyo and I am not too sure that waiting to get in will work out for those on the sidelines. It will be interesting to see how successful Softbank's recruiting efforts will be: Friday, August 13, 1999 NASDAQ Japan Recruits Staff From Rival JSDA TOKYO (Nikkei)--The company working to establish the NASDAQ Japan stock market has recruited managerial level employees from rival Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA), which runs Japan's over-the-counter market. Softbank Corp. (9984) and the National Association of Securities Dealers of the U.S. formed the entity that is to launch the Japanese version of the U.S.' NASDAQ. It has also lured employees from a firm consigned by JSDA to run the actual operations of the OTC market. Softbank is reportedly head-hunting at several brokerage houses and the Tokyo Stock Exchange as well as the JSDA, contacting people versed in the stock registration screening process and OTC transactions. President Masayoshi Son of Softbank has said that by September he would ask representatives from major brokerage houses to organize a task force to help prepare for NASDAQ Japan's debut. (The Nikkei Financial Daily Friday edition) Copyright 1999 Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc., all rights reserved.

To: Taikun who wrote (1288)	8/13/1999 10:36:00 AM
From: TobagoJack	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6018

Taikun, the lead elements of the 9984 landing in Hong Kong has now been joined by some heavier reinforcement with some horsepower in leadership ... It looks like this consortium stands a good chance of taking a lead in Asian internet development. And w/ GE Capital on tap, what possibilities! Asia Online Receives US$35 Million Venture Capital Financing from J.P. Morgan Syndicate -- New Funding to Support Softbank ISP's Pacific Rim Expansion -- Hong Kong (August 10, 1999) --- Asia Online, the Softbank Group's Asia-based Internet Service Provider (ISP), today announced the closing of US$35 million in private equity financing from a J.P. Morgan-led syndicate. Joining J.P. Morgan in the syndicate are Pequot Capital, GE Equity, Softbank Technology Ventures, Nexus Capital Partners and Concentric Network. The new capital will fund Asia Online's acquisitions of Internet-related companies to create a network of businesses providing high quality Internet-solutions for corporate users throughout the Pacific Rim. The company will seek to continue the success it has achieved in Hong Kong, where it is firmly established as the leading independent ISP. Outside Hong Kong, Asia Online has already captured the leadership position in the Philippine Web development market, and recently opened operations in Walnut Creek, California as the base for its Americas sales and marketing efforts. The Internet pioneer, established in early 1995, is now set to extend its success around the Asia Pacific region through strategic acquisitions of a range of Internet-related entities, including ISPs, online service providers, web developers and web hosting companies. It is also proceeding to build new data centers and other facilities to help support the anticipated growth in demand for Internet-related services. "With Softbank's backing of our initial plan to expand Asia Online's geographic coverage earlier this year, we have made significant progress in identifying growth opportunities," said Asia Online Chief Executive Kevin Randolph. "Now, with this J.P. Morgan-led syndicate behind us, there will be no stopping our drive to build the first Internet solutions company providing the convenience and efficiencies of the Web throughout Asia, as well as to people outside Asia wanting to do business with the region." "To put this investment in a historical context, it is interesting to note that J.P. Morgan, which funded the expansion of the distribution system of the 1800's, the railroads, is now supporting the expansion of the distribution system of the 21st century, the Internet," said Randolph. According to Randolph, the involvement of Concentric -- one of the world's foremost providers of value-added IP network applications and services -- will be of great strategic importance as Asia Online expands its presence throughout Asia. Meanwhile, Pequot Capital, GE Capital, and Nexus Capital add tremendous financial credibility to the organisation. Besides expanding Asia Online's geographic scope, Randolph said the additional funds would also go towards enhancing existing services and bringing new, high-value products on stream. Each of these will fit into the company's objective of providing corporate customers with a full range of Internet business productivity tools, he said. Many of these products and services will be acquired from sister companies within the Softbank Group, which now includes more than 80 Internet-related entities -- among them Yahoo, E*Trade, Buy.com, Comdex, ZDNet, Verisign, Interliant and Net2Phone. "The strength of the management team that has been assembled to take Asia Online through this next phase of development is impressive," said Karl Fooks, Vice President of J.P. Morgan International Capital Corporation, the private equity investing arm of the global financial services firm, J.P. Morgan. "Mr. Randolph has brought together a very high caliber group of experienced professionals from around the world, which gives us strong confidence in Asia Online's plan to provide services to those who wants to conduct business in or with Asia. We are moreover very excited to be part of the team with Softbank." The Asia Online board of directors is comprised of co-chairmen Scott Russell and Brad Feld from Softbank Technology Ventures; Henry Nothhaft, CEO of Concentric; and Randolph.