Japanese firms stage record overseas M&A

A private-sector survey shows Japanese companies last year made a record number of overseas mergers and acquisitions.
According to a report by M&A consultancy Recof Corporation, Japanese businesses launched 635 such deals in 2016. That's 75 more than in the previous year and marks the third straight year
 The deals were valued at about $90bn, Japan's broadcaster (NHK World) reported.
The biggest acquisition was the roughly $30bn purchase by Japanese telecom giant Softbank Group of UK-based chip developer ARM Holdings.