(Adds Royal Dutch Shell, Norfolk Southern Corp (N:NSC), FedEx (N:FDX) and
others)
Jan 8 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions
and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Friday:
** Royal Dutch Shell's RDSa.L bid to acquire BG Group
BG.L was dealt a blow on Friday when a first major shareholder
said it would vote against the $49 billion deal due to a weak
outlook for oil prices and risks related to BG's assets in
Brazil. Two trade unions representing workers at No. 4 U.S.
railroad Norfolk Southern Corp NSC.N have joined a growing
chorus of opposition to an unsolicited bid from Canadian Pacific
Railway Ltd CP.TO , one in an unpublished letter sent to the
U.S. rail regulator and the other in an interview with Reuters.
Activist shareholders could push media company Time
Warner Inc TWX.N to sell itself or spin off its lucrative HBO
business, the New York Post reported late on Thursday.
China's Fosun International Ltd 0656.HK has entered an
agreement to boost its stake in German fashion brand Tom Tailor
Holding AG TTIGn.DE to up to 30 percent, the Shanghai-based
conglomerate said on Friday. Chipmakers Texas Instruments Inc TXN.O and Analog
Devices Inc ADI.O have decided not to pursue an acquisition of
Maxim Integrated Products Inc MXIM.O at this time, Bloomberg
reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Companies interested in lighting assets will be able to
bid for top European brands Philips PHG.AS and Osram OSRn.DE
in two separate auctions starting this month, industry sources
said on Friday. The European Commission said it had approved without
conditions FedEx's FDX.N planned 4.4 billion euro ($4.78
billion) takeover of Dutch package delivery rival TNT Express
TNTE.AS . Germany's Linde AG LING.DE is launching the sale of its
temperature-controlled logistics unit Gist in a deal potentially
worth more than $875 million, as it streamlines its operations
to focus on its core industrial gases operations, two people
familiar with the matter said. Finnish state-controlled utility Fortum FUM1V.HE said
it has launched a public tender offer worth up to 106 million
euro ($115 million) for Polish electricity and gas seller Duon
DUOP.WA . South African telecoms group MTN MTNJ.J has bought
Nigerian internet provider Visafone to improve its broadband
services in its biggest market, it said on Friday, as the
company awaits a ruling on a $3.9 billion Nigerian fine.
Chinese drugmaker Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd 1177.HK
said it plans to buy stock in distressed debt manager China
Cinda Asset Management Co Ltd 1359.HK worth about $747 million
as a financial investment. RWE AG RWEG.DE , Germany's second-biggest utility, has
agreed to sell its Lynemouth coal-fired power plant in Britain
to Czech-Slovak energy investment group EPH, it said on
Thursday. Bulgaria's competition watchdog said it has given the go
ahead for Bulgarian businessman Spas Roussev to take control of
the country's leading telecoms operator Vivacom. Brazilian homebuilder PDG Realty SA PDGR3.SA said on
Thursday it plans to sell property and homes worth 462 million
reais ($114 million) to pay debt and improve cash flow.
Mediona, a unit of Italy's Banca FarmaFactoring, offered
430 million zlotys ($108 million) to buy Polish health sector
financing provider Magellan MAG.WA on Friday. Siemens AG SIEGn.DE has signed deals to work on Iran's
railway infrastructure as it anticipates the lifting of Western
economic sanctions against Tehran following a nuclear deal
reached last year. Telecom Italia TLIT.MI has held no contacts with Oi
OIBR3.SA over the idea of tying up their Brazilian assets, a
spokesman for the Italian phone group said on Friday.
Rare earths producer Molycorp MCPIQ.PK reached
agreements with its junior creditors on Friday that clear the
way for the bankrupt company to accept bids for the company and
to ask creditors to vote on a plan to exit bankruptcy.
Japan's NEC Corp 6701.T is in initial talks to acquire
Indian IT services firm Mphasis Ltd MBFL.NS , majority owned by
HP Inc HPQ.N , CNBC TV18 reported on Friday, citing unnamed
sources. ($1 = 3.99 zlotys)
($1 = 4.04 Brazilian reais)