By Greg Roumeliotis and Liana B. Baker
(Reuters) – Verizon Communications Inc (VZ.N) is considering making a buyout offer for Straight Path Communications Inc (STRP.A) which would top AT&T Inc’s (T.N) $ 1.25 billion bid, people familiar with the matter said.
Shares of Straight Path, a holder of licenses to wireless spectrum, rose 3.6 percent to $ 95 in after-market trading.
Straight Path said in a regulatory filing on Thursday that a third party, which it did not name, is evaluating making an offer that would top AT&T’s bid. (http://bit.ly/2pc8Nn0)
The party had also been bidding to acquire the company before AT&T made its offer, Straight Path said.
AT&T and Verizon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Straight Path on Monday agreed to be acquired by AT&T, the No. 2 U.S. wireless carrier, for $ 95.63 per share. The price represents a hefty 162.1 percent premium to Straight Path’s April 7 closing price.
Millimeter wave spectrum is expected to play a large role in 5G networks. Both AT&T and bigger rival Verizon have been conducting 5G trials.
Verizon is testing a 5G fixed wireless service with equipment maker Ericsson in 11 markets in the U.S. and expects a commercial launch as early as 2018.
Straight Path had said in January it was hiring investment bank Evercore Partners to help explore strategic alternatives, including a sale of assets.
Shares of AT&T and Verizon were unchanged in extended trading.
(Additional reporting by Laharee Chatterjee and Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)
