More Japanese companies are on the hunt for acquisitions in Asia, Europe and elsewhere as a strong yen gives them the financial clout to buy up businesses in expanding overseas markets

More Japanese companies are on the hunt for acquisitions in Asia, Europe and elsewhere as a strong yen gives them the financial clout to buy up businesses in expanding overseas markets, said Nomura Holding's head of mergers and acquisitions, Kentaro Okuda.

"There are a lot of deals in the pipeline," Okuda, a senior managing director at Nomura, told Reuters on Friday.

In Asia Pacific, the value of M&A by Japanese companies so far this year is $6 billion spread over 146 deals, he said. In the Americas, Japanese firms have so far spent $15.7 billion on 92 acquisitions, while Europe has taken in $5 billion for 63 purchases.

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