Softbank, Line deals underscore rise of Asian mega-deal

Pepper the robot participates in a Japanese ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this year. Its manufacturer, SoftBank Robotics, is opening new offices in San Francisco and releasing a development kit for Android programmers. The proposed 32 billion acquisition of ARM Holdings, a U.K.-based maker of smartphone chips, by Japanese conglomerate Softbank is the second deal in two weeks that highlights the ascendancy of Asian technology investors. It likely won't be the last example this year, given global economic and investing trends. Last week, the Korean firm Naver -- parent of Japan-based messaging service Line (LN) -- sold off part of its ownership stake in the biggest tech IPO so far this year.