SoftBank's investments in India may cross $10 billion
30 May 2016
Japan's SoftBank, which owns one of Japan's biggest mobile carriers and a controlling stake in US-based Sprint Corp, will make its first $350 million investment in a solar project in India, as it scales up its India portfolio to $10 billion, its chief executive Masayoshi Son said.
SoftBank Group Corp is a Japanese multinational telecommunications and internet corporation, with operations in broadband and fixed-line telecommunications, e-commerce, internet, technology services, finance, media and marketing, and other businesses.
The investment is part of SoftBank's commitment to a $20-billion three-way joint venture with Bharti Enterprises and Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group to generate 20 gigawatts of renewable energy.
In June last year, SoftBank announced a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises and Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group to generate 20 gigawatts of renewable energy. This would entail the three partners investing about $20 billion.
"We have already invested $2 billion and we are interested in investing more," Son said.
"India has a great future. We are interested in investing in internet companies and also in solar energy. We would make strong commitments," he added.
Son said SoftBank is looking at accelerating the pace of I India investments in future.
"We also made a first move on solar energy. We are making $350 million investment in first project in solar (in India). We will expand. In next 5-10 years, we will definitely make probably around $10 billion of investments," he added.
Son said achieving the electricity generation target would depend on power purchase agreements being signed with offtaker states, adding that "we will support it".
Over the past two years SoftBank had invested $627 million in online-retailing marketplace Snapdeal and part funded a $210 million round in taxi-hailing app Ola Cabs.
It paid $200 million for a 35 per cent stake in InMobi, an Indian mobile-advertising network.
SoftBank also has a JV with the Bharti Group, Bharti SoftBank, the investments of which include the mobile application Hike Messenger. Its other investments cover real estate website Housing.com, hotel-booking app Oyo Rooms and Grofers.
Son said India's market is poised for massive growth, making it an important destination for investors.
"We are very very confident about India, so we will increase investment. I am not worried. I am very very excited about the opportunity." Son, who had previously predicted that India's e-commerce industry would become a $500 billion business in the next 10 years, is confident that it will grow exponentially.
"And it will become like China and become worth hundreds of billions of dollars," he said.
Though India has lagged China on development of the internet, SoftBank believes the country will grow strongly over the next decade.
On consolidation in the e-commerce space, he said, "We always thought that whenever there is an opportunity to win, I am sure there will be lots of co-operation."
Asked what he wants from the government on renewable energy push, Son reply was "just support international standard" for paying for electricity generated and consumed.
"On making investment, there is international stand on the rules. For example, if we make investment, then we want payment... there are international rules and standards and as long as India provides (that), we don't need any advantage. As long as there is parity with international standards that is enough," he said.