(Adds Qualcomm, Carrefour , London Stock Exchange, New Fortress Energy, Talkspace, Equinor, InVivo, Naturgy)
Jan 13 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Wednesday:
** Naturgy NTGY.MC is nearing a deal to buy U.S. solar firm Candela Renewables, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, marking the Spanish group's first ever deal in the United States, one of the markets where it wants to focus its expansion strategy in the next five years. Cooperative group InVivo has entered exclusive talks to acquire family-controlled Soufflet in a deal that would create one of Europe's biggest agricultural businesses with 10 billion euros ($12.17 billion) in sales, the companies said. Norway's oil and gas firm Equinor EQNR.OL is considering selling its onshore shale assets in the Bakken field in the United States, Norwegian business daily Dagens Naeringsliv reported, citing a company executive. Online therapy app Talkspace agreed to go public through a merger with Doug Braunstein-backed blank-check firm Hudson Executive Investment Corp HECCU.O , in a deal valued at $1.4 billion, including debt. U.S.-based New Fortress Energy Inc NFE.O said it would buy natural gas company Hygo Energy Transition Ltd HYGO.O for $2.18 billion to expand its presence in Brazil, a frontier for growth in the burgeoning liquefied natural gas market. EU antitrust regulators gave the green light to the London Stock Exchange's $27 billion takeover of Refinitiv, creating a stronger competitor to financial data leader Bloomberg LP. Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard ATDb.TO said it has submitted a non-binding offer letter to buy European retail giant Carrefour CARR.PA at a price of 20 euros per share. Qualcomm Inc QCOM.O said it will acquire Nuvia Inc, a chip startup founded by Apple Inc AAPL.O veterans, for $1.4 billion, with plans to put the firm's technology into its smartphone, laptop and automotive processors. Canadian convenience-store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO said it has initiated exploratory discussions with Europe's biggest retailer, Carrefour SA CARR.PA , regarding a potential transaction. Spanish telecom company Telefonica TEF.MC said it had agreed to sell its mobile phone masts in Europe and Latin America to American Towers for 7.7 billion euros ($9.41 billion) in cash. Japanese property firm Keihanshin Building Co 8818.T said activist fund Strategic Capital failed in a hostile bid to boost its stake in the company. Visa (NYSE:V) V.N and financial technology company Plaid said that they would terminate their $5.3 billion merger agreement following a U.S. government lawsuit aimed at stopping the proposed transaction on antitrust grounds. Japanese trading house Itochu Corp 8001.T said it plans to exit the thermal coal business, selling its stakes in mines in Columbia and Australia by March 2024 as it aims to promote decarbonisation. Top mutual fund firm Vanguard Group has sold its stakes in certain Chinese securities to comply with a United States ban on Americans from investing in companies it deems to have links with China's military.