Sprint Nextel has announced it is in talks with Japan's Softbank Corp. (BBB/Stable/--), which is seeking to buy all or part of Sprint Nextel. We are placing our ratings on Sprint Nextel, including our 'B+' corporate credit rating, on CreditWatch with positive implications. An important factor in our analysis would be the degree of support we would attribute to the higher-rated Softbank. On Oct. 11, 2012, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services placed its 'B+' corporate credit rating, and all other ratings, on Overland Park, Kan.-based wireless service provider Sprint Nextel Corp. on CreditWatch with positive implications. The CreditWatch placement follows Sprint Nextel's announcement that it is in talks with Japan's Softbank Corp. (BBB/Stable/--), which is seeking to buy all or
