Mori Hamada & Matsumoto's work in 2006 earned awards for "M&A Deal of the Year" from International Financial Law Review (IFLR), an internationally recognized law magazine.

Softbank Mobile - Vodafone Japan
"A landmark corporate and financing transaction at $15 billion, it was the largest LBO in Asia in 2006. This acquisition was made through a complex takeover bid followed by a cash squeeze-out of remaining minority shares. It was funded by bridge facilities as well as investment in preferred and common stock. Vodafone UK's lenders are from various jurisdictions. The structuring had to consider legal issues from each of these jurisdictions, including US takeover bid rules. From a Japanese perspective, the deal involved a complicated takeover bid structure with features previously unseen seen in Japan. This meant that the registration proved difficult and involved discussions with the relevant local authorities. The seller's subscription of preferred stock is also new in Japan. Two aspects of the deal were firsts in Japan, including the complex takeover bid structure and the seller retaining some level of equity. " - IFLR