BLOOMBERG Seven & I Holdings Co is closing roughly one out of every four of its Ito-Yokado stores in Japan, marking the retailer’s latest response to pressure from an activist investor to streamline its business. Shares in the world’s largest convenience-store operator rose 4.1%, the most in two months, after public broadcaster NHK reported the store closings. The Tokyo-based company …

BLOOMBERG Advent International and CVC Capital Partners are among private equity firms weighing bids for a minority stake in Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s aircraft maintenance and repair unit, people with knowledge of the matter said. A stake in Lufthansa’s Technik business is also attracting initial interest from Bain Capital and Blackstone Inc, according to the people, who asked not to be …

BLOOMBERG WHP Global, the owner of the Toys ‘R’ Us and Express retail brands, has secured $375 million in growth capital from private equity giant Ares Management Corp. The transaction values the company at $1.6 billion, according to a statement reviewed by Bloomberg News. The investment will add significant cash to the retail operator’s balance sheet and spur its “next …