SoftBank ups its Sprint stake again, now past 80 percent

A series of recent stock transactions has pushed Tokyo-based SoftBank's ownership in Sprint to more than 80 percent. SoftBank now owns 80.1 percent of the Overland Park-based wireless carrier, a Sprint spokesman said. The move is expected to give SoftBank some tax benefits beyond its $21.6 billion purchase of a 78 percent stake in Sprint in July.