April 21 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is exploring a potential combination with T-Mobile, Bloomberg News reporter Michelle Davis said on X on Tuesday. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing
Deutsche Telekom exploring merger with T-Mobile, Bloomberg News reports
Potential Merger Details and Market Impact
Overview of the Reported Merger
April 21 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom is considering a full combination with T-Mobile US that could result in the largest public M&A deal on record, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The German telecoms group has been in talks about creating a new holding company that would make a stock bid for shares of both Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile, the report said.
Current Ownership Structure
Deutsche Telekom is the majority shareholder in T-Mobile, with a stake of nearly 53%, according to LSEG data.
Market Valuations and Share Movements
Shares of T-Mobile, with a market value of about $218.57 billion, rose more than 1% following the news.
Deutsche Telekom has a valuation of about $166.46 billion. In February, the company said it had no plans to sell any T-Mobile shares in 2026.
Implications of the Potential Merger
Global Market Position
The potential merger could create the world's biggest wireless operator by market capitalization, beating China Mobile Ltd, valued at $234.67 billion.
Analyst Insights
"Deutsche Telekom's tighter grip on T-Mobile is all about backing its strongest asset and building the broader group around that momentum," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore.
Regulatory and Political Considerations
Discussions are at a preliminary stage and any transaction would require political support to move ahead, according to the report, which added that details of the potential deal could also change.
Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. The White House and the Federal Network Agency, the primary regulatory body overseeing telecommunications in Germany, did not immediately respond to requests.
Background and Shareholder Influence
History of Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile
The German telecoms group has been the majority owner of the U.S. wireless carrier since buying VoiceStream for $50.7 billion in 2000 and renaming it T-Mobile USA. Its stake was diluted after T‑Mobile merged with MetroPCS in 2013 and then Sprint in 2020.
Shareholder Roles in the Merger
Deutsche Telekom's shareholders, including the German state and government-controlled bank KfW, both of which own 14%, would have a say in the potential merger.
Recent Financial Performance
Deutsche Telekom beat fourth-quarter core profit expectations in February but issued a mixed outlook for 2026, while T-Mobile raised its forecast for 2027 service revenue and adjusted free cash flow.
(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City, additional reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
