Convenience store chain Lawson may receive a takeover bid from telecommunications operator KDDI for 496.5 billion yen (US$3.3 billion) as early as April, Nikkei Asia reported.

KDDI is interested in acquiring a 50 per cent stake in Lawson from general shareholders, with the other half remaining with Mitsubishi. Currently, KDDI owns a 2.9 per cent stake in Lawson.

Should the acquisition pushes through, Lawson will delist its shares from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The report noted that KDDI plans to use information such as the history of store purchases to broaden its business outside the telecommunications industry.