Japanese bank Nomura raising $5.6 billion to expand in the U.S.

Nomura Holdings (NMR), the Japanese megabank that owns the remnants of Lehman Brothers' overseas operations, says it's raising $5.6 billion (well, ¥511 billion, actually) to expand in the United States and elsewhere. Nomura, Japan's largest brokerage, plans to sell about 800 million shares in Japan and internationally, and use the money for investments and loans to its subsidiaries.

Nomura Chief Executive Officer Kenichi Watanabe has long made clear his interest in beefing up the firm's American business. But last year, after purchasing Lehman's Asian and European units, Nomura lost out to Barclays Plc. in an attempt to buy Lehman Brothers Holdings in the U.S.