(Adds Halliburton (N:HAL), Plains All American, Cosco, Banca Popolare;
updates Time Warner ))
Jan 12 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions
and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Tuesday:
** Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group has bought U.S.
film studio Legendary Entertainment for about $3.5 billion,
turning its chairman, Wang Jianlin, into a Hollywood movie mogul
as China's richest man steps up a drive to diversify his
business empire overseas. The private equity owners of VAT Vakuumventile are
working with bankers on a potential 1.5 billion Swiss franc
($1.5 billion) exit of the Swiss vacuum valve maker, four
sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. The European Commission said it had launched an in-depth
investigation into oilfield services provider Halliburton Co's
HAL.N planned purchase of its smaller rival Baker Hughes Inc
BHI.N . Time Warner Inc (N:TWX) TWX.N Chief Executive Jeff Bewkes is
against a sale or a spinoff of premium cable channel HBO, but
hinted he would be open to a sale of the whole company, the New
York Post reported, citing sources. Finland's second-biggest retailer Kesko KESBV.HE said
it was buying building products supplier Onninen in an all-share
deal worth 369 million euros ($401 million), allowing it to
serve more business customers. Japan's Asahi Group Holdings 2502.T is considering
acquiring Grolsch and Peroni, two beer brands owned by SABMiller
Plc SAB.L , to secure growth beyond a saturated and ageing home
market, a source familiar with the matter said. Travel search engine Skyscanner said Malaysia's sovereign
fund Khazanah Nasional, Yahoo (O:YHOO) Japan Corp 4689.T and three
other companies would jointly invest about 128 million pounds
($185.9 million) in the company. Israel's Frutarom FRUT.TA , one of the world's largest
flavoring and specialty natural ingredient companies, continued
expanding on Tuesday with the purchase of a U.S. biotech firm
whose products help the body absorb vitamins and minerals. The
$20 million deal for New Jersey-based Grow Co was Frutarom's
29th acquisition in the past five years. Private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC APO.N
is in advanced talks to buy for-profit education provider Apollo
Education Group Inc APOL.O , a source familiar with the matter
said on Monday. Japan's ANA Holdings 9202.T said it plans to buy an 8.8
percent stake in state-controlled Vietnam Airlines, becoming its
main strategic partner in a deal that values the Southeast Asian
carrier at about $1.2 billion. Nevs, the China-focused consortium that bought bankrupt
Swedish carmaker Saab, said on Tuesday it had signed a framework
deal worth about 8.5 billion crowns ($996 million) with China
Volant Industry Co (Volinco) for 20,000 electric cars.
Greece only received a bid from China's Cosco Holdings Co
Ltd 601919.SS for a majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority
SA OLPr.AT , the operator of the country's biggest port, the
privatisation agency said on Tuesday. French voucher and prepaid card provider Edenred
EDEN.PA unveiled plans to expand in Brazil through a joint
venture with Embratec that will see it double the size of its
fuel card business in the South American country. Grupo BTG Pactual SA BBTG11.SA , the Brazilian
investment bank selling assets in the wake of the arrest of
founder André Esteves, said on Tuesday that discussions to sell
a 51 percent stake in insurer Pan Seguros SA are taking place.
The chief executive of Mubadala Petroleum said low oil
prices could create buying opportunities for the Abu Dhabi-based
firm in Asia, but the current market means it is avoiding ultra
deep water exploration investment in West Africa. Canadian tour operator Transat AT Inc TRZ.TO said on
Tuesday it was looking for buyers for its operations in France
and Greece. Italian cooperative banks Banca Popolare di Milano Scarl
PMII.MI and Banco Popolare Sc BAPO.MI are in talks to agree
a merger by early March, four sources close to the matter said
on Tuesday, which would create Italy's third-largest lender.
Italy plans to privatise national rail services by
selling a stake in the railways' holding company, the economy
minister said on Tuesday, hinting the sale could take place in
2017.