Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co., the Japanese health products company that was at the center of a supplement contamination scandal involving suspected deaths, is said to be considering a potential buyout offer of more than ¥500 billion ($3.2 billion) by private equity investors.

French automotive supplier Forvia SE is considering selling its Japanese unit Clarion Electronics Co. as it looks to cut debt and streamline, according to people familiar with the situation.

SoftBank Corp. is getting closer to acquiring SP.LINKS Inc. after securing preferred bidder status for Blackstone Inc.’s payments service provider, people familiar with the matter said.

Bain Capital and LY Corp. are considering making a fresh joint offer for Japanese online marketplace Kakaku.com Inc., people familiar with the matter said, marking an escalation in the bidding war with private equity firm EQT AB.

EQT AB is increasing its tender offer price for Japan’s Kakaku.com Inc., escalating its bidding war with the duo of LY Corp. and Bain Capital for the online data firm.

The bankruptcy of Zentoshin Co., an Osaka-based credit card payment processor, threatens both the regional banks which funded it as well as the small and medium-sized restaurants that relied on its services.

Lenders to Godiva Japan Inc. have agreed to extend by nine months the maturity of about ¥75 billion ($463 million) in loans to the struggling chocolate maker, people familiar with the matter said.

Bain Capital and LY Corp. are poised to make a binding bid for Kakaku.com Inc., challenging a tender offer from EQT AB that values the price-comparison site operator at around ¥595 billion ($3.7 billion).

Investment firms including Blackstone Inc. and Bain Capital have advanced to the second round of bidding for the real estate unit of Fuji Media Holdings Inc., people familiar with the matter said, in what’s likely to be Japan’s biggest-ever property deal.

Godiva Japan Inc. is in talks with its banking syndicate to extend the repayment deadline on leveraged buyout financing as the chocolate maker struggles in the major Asian market, according to people familiar with the matter.

SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. is considering starting a fund to provide so-called mezzanine financing, as a mergers and acquisitions boom in Japan fuels demand for loans that are riskier than senior debt.

Nikkon Holdings Co. is considering going private and the Japanese logistics company is preparing to hold a first round of bidding in early June, according to people familiar with the matter.

Bain Capital and LY Corp. have submitted a joint offer to acquire Tokyo-listed Kakaku.com Inc., the $3.7 billion price comparison site operator fielding a takeover by EQT AB.

Bain Capital and LY Corp. have submitted a joint offer to acquire Tokyo-listed Kakaku.com Inc., the $3.7 billion price comparison site operator fielding a takeover by EQT AB.

MUFG Bank Ltd. is looking for opportunities to make further acquisitions or investments in Asia and elsewhere, according to the new head of the lending unit at Japan’s largest banking group.

Matsui Securities Co., one of Japan’s pioneers for online trading, has begun talks with several major domestic financial institutions over a possible capital alliance, people familiar with the matter said.

Matsui Securities Co., one of Japan’s pioneers for online trading, has begun talks with several major domestic financial institutions over a possible capital alliance, people familiar with the matter said.

Japan’s main banking lobby plans to establish risk management guidelines for lenders offering leveraged loans to finance mergers and acquisitions deals as transactions soar in the country, according to people familiar with the matter.

Bain Capital and Lone Star Funds have advanced to a second round of bidding for Mitsubishi Electric Corp.’s automotive equipment business, according to people familiar with the matter.

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. is near a deal to to acquire Dentsu Group Inc.’s headquarters building in Tokyo for about ¥300 billion ($1.9 billion), according to people familiar with the matter.