Sources say Japanese telecommunications company SoftBank is looking to buy DreamWorks Animation.
While experts familiar with the situation did not reveal a price for the possible purchase, one said the deal could lead to a distribution partnership or an investment instead of a complete acquisition, according to The Wall Street Journal. The source added that the discussions are currently in the early stages.
If the deal goes through, it would provide SoftBank with an opportunity to help Sprint become more of a challenge to other carriers like AT&T and Verizon. The company previously considered buying T-Mobile, the fourth-largest cellular carrier in the U.S., to expand its telecommunications network, but CEO Masayoshi Son turned the bid down last month due to antitrust issues.
Sources also claim that SoftBank is offering $32 per share for the DreamWorks Animation acquisition, The Verge reported.
While the Hollywood studio is responsible for animated films such as Shrek and Madagascar, it has been facing challenges in recent years with its movies, and depends highly on its films' box office performances.
Films that have not been as successful as others include Turbo, Rise of the Guardians, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
However, DreamWorks Animation has found success in other recent movies, such as The Croods and How to Train Your Dragon 2.
Softbank has also been focusing on expansion in other markets such as mobile-gaming apps, The Wall Street Journal reported. Moves to grow in this market include the company's purchase last month of Supercell Oy, a mobile-gaming company in Finland responsible for games like "Clash of Clans."
