Fears of SoftBank default jump as Son mulls Charter takeover

Tokyo

THE possibility that SoftBank Group Corp will pile on even more debt if founder Masayoshi Son goes ahead with a bid for Charter Communications Inc is starting to spook the bond market.

The cost to insure SoftBank's debt against nonpayment has jumped 17.2 basis points this week to 156.7 basis points on Wednesday, the highest level since Jan 9, after people familiar with the matter said the company has as much as US$65 billion in financing lined up as Mr Son weighs whether to make an offer. The yield premium on the firm's 6 per cent dollar perpetual bonds has surged 31 basis points in the period, Bloomberg-compiled prices show.