Japanese trading house Marubeni has acquired US grain handler Gavilon Group for $3.6bn, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Tokyo-based firm's purchase represents the biggest cross-border acquisition by a Japanese company so far this year, according to Dealogic. Gavilon, the US's third-largest grain handler, counted legendary fund manager George Soros as an investor. Morgan Stanley advised Gavilon, while Nomura advised Marubeni.