Mint Mobile, partly owned by Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, is being acquired by T-Mobile as part of a cash-and-stock deal worth as much as $1.35 billion US.
T-Mobile’s purchase of Ka’ena Corp. will give it access the budget wireless provider Mint, along with Ultra Mobile and wholesaler Plum.
The brands, which already use T-Mobile for their network, will be run as a separate business unit.
In a tweet, Reynolds says “I never dreamt I’d own a wireless company and I certainly never dreamt I’d sell it to T-Mobile.”
He adds he is incredibly proud and grateful.
I never dreamt I’d own a wireless company and I certainly never dreamt I’d sell it to T-Mobile. Life is strange and I’m incredibly proud and grateful. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/MintMobile?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#MintMobile</a>
—@VancityReynolds
The U-S wireless carrier said Wednesday that it is acquiring the brands’ sales, marketing, digital and service operations.
It plans to use its supplier relationships and distribution scale to help grow the brands and offer competitive pricing and greater device inventory to more U.S. consumers seeking low cost offerings.
T-Mobile US Inc. said Mint and Ultra Mobile are complementary to its existing prepaid services, Metro by T-Mobile, T-Mobile branded prepaid and Connect by T-Mobile.
T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert said the company plans to give a boost to Mint’s already successful digital direct-to-consumer business.
Mint founders David Glickman and Rizwan Kassim will stay on at T-Mobile after the transaction is complete to manage the brands.
Reynolds, meanwhile, will remain in his creative role for Mint.
The actual price of the deal will depend on Ka’ena Corp.’s performance during certain periods before and after the closing.
The transaction is targeted to close later this year.
T-Mobile, based in Bellevue, Washington, became one of the largest cellphone service carriers in the U-S in 2020 after buying rival Sprint.