Nomura is touting the sale of two of its Japanese businesses, including its real estate arm, to private equity firms, according to press reports this morning. But who apart from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and TPG Capital would be interested?

The Japanese bank is considering the sale of Nomura Real Estate and Nomura Research Institute, its consulting and research unit. Also potentially up for grabs is the savings bank Ashikaga, which it purchased three years ago from the Japanese government,