Robin Marriott

The Japanese bank is to buy €800 million worth of German DIY stores as part of a drive into alternative investments.

Start-up private equity firm Merchant Equity Parters is in pole position to snap up the loss-making retail division of MFI Furniture Group.

GI Partners, a private equity firm focused on asset-backed investments, is thought to be among those making an approach for the European factory outlet centre developer.

Europe’s biggest listed private equity firm has gone to India to commit $40m to a real estate fund.