(Abbott, Dominion Resources, Amaya, Stryker , Lavazza, Royal
Dutch Shell, Royal Nickel, CenterPoint Energy, Shanghai Jin
Jiang)
Feb 1 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions
and disposals were reported by 1445 GMT on Monday:
** Drugmaker Abbott Laboratories (N:ABT) said it would buy
Alere Inc ALR.N for $5.8 billion to boost its global
diagnostics business and enter into new markets.
Power producer Dominion Resources Inc (N:D) said it would
buy natural gas distributor Questar Corp for about $4.4
billion in cash to expand its natural gas operations.
Canada's Amaya Inc AYA.TO AYA.O , operator of online
gambling website PokerStars, said it received a non-binding
proposal from Chief Executive David Baazov to buy the company
for about C$21 per share.
Medical device maker Stryker Corp (N:SYK) said it would
buy Sage Products LLC, which makes products used in intensive
care units, from private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners
for $2.78 billion.
Italy's Lavazza will seal the purchase of French coffee
brand Carte Noire in the next few weeks in a deal worth about
750 million euros ($814 million), two sources close to the
matter told Reuters.
Japan's top steelmaker Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp
5401.T unveiled a plan on Monday to take control of
fourth-ranked rival Nisshin Steel Co Ltd 5413.T and trim some
of their combined steel output in the face of a global supply
glut.
Saudi Telecom Co 7010.SE (STC) will buy a further 25.8
percent of Viva VIVA.KW for 1.59 billion riyals ($424.00
million), taking majority control of its affiliate following the
close of a voluntary tender offer period for the Kuwaiti firm's
shares.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc RDSa.L said it had agreed to sell
its shares in Shell Refining Company in Malaysia to a unit of a
private Chinese refiner for $66.3 million.
Canada's Royal Nickel Corp RNX.TO , capitalizing on
discount asset prices as commodity markets swoon, announced two
cash and stock acquisitions on Monday that transform the mine
developer into a cash-generating nickel, copper and gold
producer.
Electric and natural gas utility CenterPoint Energy Inc (N:CNP)
CNP.N said on Monday it was considering strategic options for
its investment in oil and natural gas pipeline company Enable
Midstream Partners, including a sale or a spinoff.
Shanghai Jin Jiang International Hotels Development Co
Ltd 600754.SS has raised its stake in French hotel group
AccorHotels ACCP.PA to 5.50 percent, becoming its
second-largest shareholder, according to a regulatory filing.
Vilmorin & Cie SA VILM.PA has acquired Genica Research
Corp to boost its place as the second-largest vegetable seed
maker after concluding Syngenta's activities were no longer for
sale.
U.S. private equity firm Blackstone (N:BX) Group LP BX.N has
reduced its stake in a key unit of state-owned China National
Chemical Corp, by more than half to less than 10 percent, two
people with knowledge of the situation told Reuters.
Berkshire Hathaway (N:BRKa) Inc, the conglomerate run by
Warren Buffett, has resumed its purchases of Phillips 66 (N:PSX)
stock, and spent roughly $832 million in January to boost its
stake even as the oil refiner's profit margins narrowed.
Coca-Cola Co has bought a 40 percent stake in
Nigerian juice and snack producer Chi Ltd, it said on Saturday,
as it continues to expand in Africa to tap a young and
fast-growing population.
Italian cooperative banks Banco Popolare Sc BAPO.MI
said on Saturday it expected to agree a merger with Banca
Popolare di Milano Scarl PMII.MI within a month, signaling the
start of a long-awaited consolidation of Italy's fragmented
banking sector.
Hypermarcas SA HYPE3.SA , the largest Brazilian producer
of personal care goods, said on Friday its board has agreed to
the sale of its contraception division to Britain's Reckitt
Benckiser Group Plc RB.L for 675 million reais ($169 million).
= 3.75 riyals)
($1 = 3.998 reais)