Cirque du Soleil and its secured creditors are close to reaching a agreement on a second stalking horse bid for the financially strapped entertainment group, after lenders opposed a deal with shareholders including TPG Capital and Fosun International, a Canadian court heard on Friday.

The South African government is "on course" to provide a funding commitment for the restructuring of loss-making South African Airways (SAA), a senior official said on Friday.

The Wirecard case will result in changes to laws on financial oversight, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Friday, as German prosecutors probe alleged fraud, balance falsification and market manipulation at the collapsed firm.

Minimalist lifestyle brand Muji's U.S. subsidiary has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, its Japanese owner Ryohin Keikaku Co said on Friday, joining the list of casualties from the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. subsidiary of minimalist lifestyle brand Muji filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, its Japanese owner Ryohin Keikaku Co said on Friday.

The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

* Seeking details of Bain deal to help prepare rival proposal (Adds details on bondholder financial exposure, proposal)

Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd bondholders plan to propose an alternative deal to creditors to the purchase by Bain Capital agreed by the company's administrator, a lawyer for the bondholders said on Friday.

A wave of oil and gas bankruptcies in North America is likely to continue this year as oil prices remain depressed and a new surge of COVID-19 cases threaten to stall any recovery in fuel demand, law firm Haynes and Boone said in a report released this week.

A South African court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by administrators in charge of South African Airways (SAA) against a ruling which prevented them from laying off staff.