Trafalgar entered a Japanese takeover battle.

The Los Angeles investment firm, headed by former Financial Corp. of American head Charles W. Knapp, said it has acquired an option to purchase 23% of Mineba Co. Ltd. of Japan, a maker of miniature bearings and electronic parts. Trafalgar Holdings said it wants to acquire either Mineba or Sankyo Seiki, another Japanese electronics company that currently is a takeover target of Mineba. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.