(Adds Lamar Advertising Co , Solvay , Norfolk Southern )
Jan 6 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions
and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Wednesday:
** The European Commission said it had approved Berkshire
Hathaway's BRKa.N planned $32.3 billion acquisition of
Precision Castparts Corp (N:PCP) PCP.N , a maker of aerospace and other
parts. French utility EDF SA EDF.PA is considering selling
assets worth over 6 billion euros ($6.45 billion) this year,
French daily Les Echos reported. Lamar Advertising Co LAMR.O is in advanced talks to buy
billboard assets in five U.S. cities from Clear Channel Outdoor
Holdings Inc CCO.N worth roughly $450 million, according to
people familiar with the matter. Verizon Communications Inc (N:VZ) VZ.N has started a process
to sell its data center assets, hoping to fetch more than $2.5
billion, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, as the
U.S. telecommunications conglomerate focuses on its core
business. Two senior Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives
urged federal regulators to reject any acquisition of railroad
operator Norfolk Southern Corp (N:NSC) NSC.N by Canadian Pacific
Railway Co CP.TO . Hong Kong-based real estate developer New World
Development Co Ltd 0017.HK said it will offer to take its 69
percent-owned China property unit private in a deal that could
be worth as much as HK$21.45 billion ($2.77 billion).
Belgian chemicals group Solvay SOLB.BR is planning to
sell its polyamide business and has given Goldman Sachs (N:GS) a
mandate to find a buyer, Belgian business daily De Tijd said on
Wednesday. Indonesian telecommunication operator PT XL Axiata Tbk
EXCL.JK , controlled by Malaysia's Axiata Group Bhd AXIA.KL ,
plans to sell 2,000-2,500 towers to repay some of its debt, a
senior company executive told Reuters. Glencore Plc GLEN.L converted some of its preferred
shares in mid-sized U.S. aluminum producer Century Aluminum Co
CENX.O into common stock worth about $200,000 at the end of
2015, boosting its stake slightly, a filing showed on Tuesday.
China's Wanda Group will invest 15 billion yuan ($2.3
billion) in hospital developments around the country, the
property and investment firm said, tapping into a reform drive
to give private firms a larger role in healthcare. Israeli real estate developer Gazit-Globe GZT.TA said
it sold a 2.9 percent stake in Canadian unit First Capital
Realty (FCR) FCR.TO for C$117 million ($83 million).
The French state plans to remain a key shareholder in
Orange ORAN.PA and would assess any planned tie-up with rival
Bouygues Telecom BOUY.PA in terms of consumer protection, jobs
and investment, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said.
= 7.75 Hong Kong dollars)
($1 = 1.41 Canadian dollars)
($1 = 6.55 Chinese yuan renminbi)