Blackstone, Fortress among bidders for Japan's Simplex

Tokyo

US INVESTMENT funds Blackstone Group, Fortress Investment Group and Elliot Management are among those shortlisted for the second round of bidding to buy Japan's Simplex Investment Advisors in a deal that could top US$1 billion, three people with knowledge of the transaction said.

Japanese property firms Hulic Co and Kenedix Inc were also shortlisted, the sources told Reuters, asking not to be identified because the process is not public.