(Adds EZchip, Leidos, EFG, American International Group, EEX
and Kraken)
Jan 19 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions
and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Tuesday:
** The majority of EZchip Semiconductor Ltd's EZCH.TA
shareholders have voted in favor of a merger with Mellanox
Technologies Ltd MLNX.O , the companies said on Tuesday, paving
the way for a deal that had been contested by an activist
shareholder. Leidos Holdings Inc LDOS.N is nearing a deal to merge
with the government information technology and services
businesses being shed by Lockheed Martin Corp (N:LMT) LMT.N in a deal
that could value these assets at around $5 billion, people
familiar with the matter said. Zurich-based private bank EFG International EFGN.S has
submitted the highest bid for BTG Pactual's Swiss unit BSI, the
Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Activist investor Carl Icahn took another swing at
American International Group Inc (N:AIG) AIG.N on Tuesday, saying the
only "sensible" option for the insurer was to split up.
Germany's European Energy Exchange (EEX) will take a
two-thirds stake in Prague's Power Exchange Central Europe
(PXE), a source familiar with the deal said on Tuesday, giving
the EEX access to developing central and southeastern Europe.
Global bitcoin exchange Kraken said on Tuesday it is
acquiring digital currency exchanges Coinsetter and Cavirtex,
strengthening its expansion in North America. The private equity arm of Goldman Sachs Group Inc (N:GS) GS.N
has teamed up with Mexican consulting firm Ainda to jointly
invest in energy and infrastructure projects in Mexico, a person
familiar with the matter said. U.S. biotechnology company Acorda Therapeutics Inc
ACOR.O announced on Tuesday an agreed $363 million cash bid
for all of the shares in Finland's Biotie Therapies BTH1V.HE .
U.S.-based Waste Connections Inc WCN.N is buying
Canada's Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd BIN.TO for about
$2.67 billion in a deal that will make the combination the
third-biggest waste management services provider in North
America. Slovenia has sold 91.6 percent of state-owned Adria
Airways to German investment fund 4K KNDNS, a part of 4K Invest,
state investment firm Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SDH) said on
Tuesday. French bank Credit Agricole CAGR.PA is reviving plans
to simplify its ownership structure with a scheme to inject
capital into the listed entity through the sale of a
cross-shareholding back to the co-operative parent. Due diligence for Egyptian firm Orascom Telecom and
Technology's OTMT.CA acquisition of CI Capital, a subsidiary
of Commercial International Bank COMI.CA , is set to be
completed within two weeks, CI Capital Vice Chairman Mahmoud
Atalla said on Tuesday. Singapore's Sembcorp Industries Ltd SCIL.SI may inject
funds into Sembcorp Marine Ltd SCMN.SI or buy full control of
the drilling rig builder to replenish finances strained by a
collapse in oil prices, people familiar with the matter said.
Bahrain Telecommunications Co BTEL.BH (Batelco) has
received non-binding offers to buy its Jordanian unit Umniah,
the former monopoly said on Tuesday. Five or seven banks may merge in Azerbaijan whose banking
sector is in the process of consolidation, central bank head
Elman Rustamov said on Tuesday. Kuwait's Petrochemicals Industries Co (PIC) has agreed to
buy a 25 percent equity stake in a venture owned by South
Korea's SK Gas Co Ltd 018670.KS and Saudi Advanced
Petrochemical Co, shareholders of the three firms said.
Publisher Johnston Press Plc JPR.L said it would look
at selling some assets in a bid to streamline its business and
raise funds for its investment.