Japan-listed shares of Softbank slid 6.3 percent on Monday and were the most heavily traded share by turnover on the main board. The deal is expected to be announced at 0800 GMT Monday, Reuters reported.



The transaction calls for Softbank to buy $8 billion worth of shares directly from Sprint at a price of $5.25 each and tender for another $12 billion worth of the shares from existing holders at a price of $7.30 a share, a large premium to Sprint's current price. Given the deal's structure, it will not require a shareholder vote.

The equity being purchased directly by Softbank includes a $3 billion convertible bond purchase that is exercisable at $5.25 and will be sold well before the deal closes, in order to provide funds for Sprint as it moves to deal with certain debt maturities at the parent and at the 48 percent owned Clearwire.

While a Sprint purchase of Clearwire will not be announced tomorrow, sources familiar with the situation tell me Sprint is working on that deal and needs to insure the governance for Clearwire is in its control prior to closing the Softbank transaction.

The remaining $5 billion in primary equity being purchased by Softbank will also be bought at $5.25 a share, said people familiar with the talks.