Softbank Investment Corp. has returned the 353,000 Fuji Television Network Inc. shares it borrowed from Nippon Broadcasting System Inc., the companies said Thursday.
The shares will once again make NBS Fuji TV's largest shareholder, with a 14 percent stake.
Earlier in the year, Internet services provider Livedoor Co. was engaged in a rare takeover bid with Fuji TV to acquire NBS, which held a commanding stake in Fuji TV.
After Livedoor acquired a majority stake in NBS in an apparent bid to enter Fuji TV's management through the radio broadcaster, Softbank Investment stepped into the battle by borrowing the Fuji TV shares from NBS in late March.
The step blocked Livedoor from getting control of Fuji TV, prompting it to cut a deal with the TV broadcaster in mid-April allowing Fuji TV to succeed with its original plan of making Nippon Broadcasting a wholly owned subsidiary.