SoftBank Group controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
WeWork bankruptcy
WeWork’s bankruptcy filing highlighted the substantial risks of SoftBank’s earlier investment strategy in highly valued, loss-making technology companies.
2021
SoftBank sues Rakuten over alleged use of leaked 5G information
Lawsuit filed
SoftBank said it filed a damages suit against Rakuten Mobile and a former employee, alleging they illegally used SoftBank's 5G network technology information leaked by the former employee.
Source excerpt
TOKYO - Japanese wireless carrier SoftBank Corp. said Thursday it has filed a damages suit against a former employee and rival Rakuten Mobile Inc. for illegally using the plaintiff's 5G network technology information leaked by the ex-SoftBank worker.
2021
Didi Mobility and SoftBank fined over joint venture
Fine or penalty
China's State Administration for Market Regulation fined Didi Mobility Pte. Ltd. and SoftBank Corp. RMB 500,000 each for implementing a joint venture without filing. The authority said the concentration did not have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition.
Source excerpt
本机关就滴滴移动与软银股份设立合营企业对市场竞争的影响进行了评估，评估认为，该项经营者集中不会产生排除、限制竞争的效果。
2021年3月12日，市场监管总局根据《中华人民共和国反垄断法》第四十八条、第四十九条作出行政处罚决定
本机关分别给予滴滴移动与软银股份50万元人民币罚款的行政处罚。
2021
US FTC investigates Nvidia’s proposed Arm acquisition
Investigation
The US Federal Trade Commission began requesting information from third parties and sought additional information from SoftBank, Nvidia and Arm as part of a follow-up investigation into Nvidia’s proposed acquisition of Arm. The article characterizes the inquiry as an antitrust investigation.
Source excerpt
周五，美国联邦贸易委员会（FTC）被曝已经开始对这项收购的信息需求发送给第三方，并要求 软银、英伟达和Arm向其提供更多信息，以展开后续调查。
美国正在加入欧盟和英国的行列，对芯片巨头英伟达400亿美元收购Arm的协议展开反竞争性调查。
2020
WeWork sues SoftBank over terminated rescue plan
Lawsuit filed
WeWork sued SoftBank in a Delaware court, claiming that SoftBank breached its contractual obligations by backing out of a $3 billion rescue plan. The complaint alleges that SoftBank acted after receiving most of the benefits under the deal; these are allegations reported in the source, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
The Special Committee is seeking specific performance requiring SoftBank to complete the tender offer or, in the alternative, compensatory damages for SoftBank’s breaches of contract and fiduciary duty.
The lawsuit is seeking a judge to either compel SoftBank to hand over the money, or at least pay a punitive breakup fee.
WeWork is suing SoftBank, its biggest VC backer, for reneging on a $3 billion tender offer of WeWork shares.
2020
We Company directors sue SoftBank over tender offer commitment
Lawsuit filed
Two We Company directors, acting in the name of its special committee, sued SoftBank Group on April 7, alleging that it breached its commitment to make a tender offer. SoftBank disputed the allegations and said it would contest them in court.
Company response
Denial — SBG
SBG 也在 7 日的聲明中提出反駁，認為 We 的論點完全站不住腳，並打算在法庭上進行抗辯。
Clarification — SoftBank
软银在一份声明中回应称，它将“继续履行其在协议中的义务”，但是WeWork尚未满足达成交易所需的所有条件。
Source excerpt
SBG 也在 7 日的聲明中提出反駁，認為 We 的論點完全站不住腳，並打算在法庭上進行抗辯。
共享辦公室 WeWork 營運公司 We Company 的兩名董事，因認為軟銀集團 (SBG)(9984-JP) 違反當初公開出價收購的承諾，在 7 日向 SBG 提起訴訟。
WeWork的声明称:“软银已经向员工做出了无数次（收购股份）的保证，违背协议将是完全不道德的，尤其是在当前的环境下。
2020
WeWork special committee sues SoftBank over failed acquisition offer
Lawsuit filed
WeWork's special committee sued SoftBank and its affiliates, alleging they breached the Master Transaction Agreement by failing to complete the planned tender offer and breached fiduciary duties to WeWork's minority shareholders.
Source excerpt
In a lawsuit, WeWork accused SoftBank of putting "its own interests" first when it abandoned a plan to buy up to $3bn of shares from other investors.
A WeWork special committee, created last year to negotiate the rescue, on Tuesday accused Softbank of deliberately blocking the restructuring.
It said the Japanese investment giant's decision was a "clear breach" of its contractual obligations and called on SoftBank to complete the tender offer or pay alternative compensatory damages.
2019
WeWork investment and failed public offering
SoftBank became closely associated with WeWork’s unsuccessful attempt to go public after concerns about governance, losses, valuation and the company’s business model led to the withdrawal of its offering. SoftBank subsequently provided further financial support and became central to the company’s restructuring.
2019
Former employee files lawsuit against WeWork and SoftBank
Lawsuit filed
Former WeWork employee Natalie Sojka filed a class-action lawsuit contesting WeWork's alleged breach of workers' stock options and also suing majority stakeholder SoftBank over its purchase of Adam Neumann's stock amid the IPO cancellation. WeWork said it believes the lawsuit is meritless.
Company response
Denial — WeWork
“WeWork believes this lawsuit is meritless,”
Source excerpt
Natalie Sojka, who according to her LinkedIn profile worked for the We Co. from September 2017 until February 2019, is also suing majority stakeholder SoftBank for buying out ousted CEO Adam Neumann’s stocks amid the IPO’s cancellation last month.
“WeWork believes this lawsuit is meritless,”
one of the company’s former employees filed a class-action lawsuit in California to contest the company’s breach of workers’ stock options.
2019
Shareholder sues over Adam Neumann exit package
Lawsuit filed
A WeWork shareholder filed a lawsuit over the nearly $1.7 billion exit package approved for former co-founder Adam Neumann. The lawsuit alleges that Neumann and SoftBank abused their control of the company to approve the deal at the expense of smaller shareholders. WeWork called the claims meritless.
A WeWork shareholder filed suit over the nearly $1.7 billion exit package approved for former co-founder Adam Neumann. The lawsuit alleges that Neumann and SoftBank abused their control of the company to approve the deal at the expense of smaller shareholders; WeWork called the claims meritless.
Company response
Denial — WeWork
WeWork called the claims "meritless".
Denial — SoftBank Group
Rob Townsend, the chief legal officer at SoftBank, described the claims as "meritless" in an emailed statement. "Under the terms of our agreement, which Adam Neumann signed, SoftBank had no obligation to complete the tender offer," Townsend said.
Source excerpt
The lawsuit was filed in San Francisco Superior Court by Natalie Sojka, who worked for the company for one and a half years and received shares as part of her pay.
WeWork called the claims "meritless".
A WeWork shareholder has taken the company to court over the near-$1.7bn (£1.3bn) leaving package approved for ousted co-founder Adam Neumann.
2019
Intel files antitrust lawsuit over Fortress patent practices
Lawsuit filed
Intel filed an antitrust lawsuit in federal court in California, alleging that a SoftBank subsidiary, Fortress Investment Group, hoarded patents to pursue lawsuits and hinder other technology companies. The source does not provide a calendar date for the filing.
Source excerpt
美国电脑芯片巨头英特尔公司过去被指垄断芯片市场，遭到许多国家多年的反垄断调查，不过有趣的是，据外媒最新消息，英特尔公司日前对全球科技行业风险投资巨头软银集团发起了一项反垄断诉讼，指控软银下属的一个子公司囤积大量专利，只是为了通过无数诉讼来获取收益，阻碍其他科技公司的发展，
据国外媒体报道，英特尔公司周一在美国加州圣何塞的加州北区联邦地方法院提起了诉讼。英特尔指出，软银集团2017年以33亿美元收购的堡垒投资集团(Fortress Investment Group)获得了1000多项美国技术专利的控制权。
Intel has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Fortress Investment Group, alleging that the company is violating antitrust rules in patent infringement claims.
2017
Apple Watch bait advertising order
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency issued a prevention order after finding that SoftBank stores advertised Apple Watch products at campaign prices while many stores did not have sufficient stock. The matter was treated as a violation involving bait advertising under Japan’s consumer representation rules.