(Adds HNA Group, Fiat Chrysler (NYSE:FCAU))
April 15 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,
acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Friday:
** Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) VRX.TO has
brought in investment banks to review its options amid interest
from buyout firms and other companies in a number of its
businesses, according to people familiar with the matter.
Tata Steel Ltd TISC.NS has hired a team of Standard
Chartered Plc STAN.L bankers to help sell its loss-making UK
business amid Britain's attempt to prevent the closure of one of
it's biggest manufacturing operations, a source familiar with
the matter said. Mitel Networks Corp MNW.TO said on Friday it would buy
fellow voice and telephony gear maker Polycom Inc PLCM.O for
about $1.96 billion in cash and stock, satisfying a demand from
activist investor Elliott Management. Toyota 7203.T , Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE and Ford F.N
are the only remaining potential merger candidates for Fiat
Chrysler FCHA.MI , since its attempt to join up with GM GM.N
was rebuffed, Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Friday.
Chinese conglomerate HNA Group has agreed to buy British
bureau-de-change operator International Currency Exchange (ICE),
the companies said on Friday, the latest takeover in a European
investment spree aimed at expanding outside Asia. Germany's biggest steelmaker Thyssenkrupp TKAG.DE wants
to play a role in any consolidation of the European steel
market, which is afflicted by excess production capacity and a
weak demand outlook, Chief Executive Heinrich Hiesinger said.
Buyout group BC Partners BCPRT.UL is sounding out
potential buyers for its German power transformer maker
SGB-SMIT, four years after a sale to China's State Grid was
halted by political intervention, three people familiar with the
matter said. XIO Group, a China-based buyout firm, is close to an
agreement to acquire J.D. Power and Associates, a unit of McGraw
Hill Financial Inc MHFI.N for more than $1 billion, according
to people familiar with the matter. A A$2.5 billion ($1.9 billion) buyout of Morgan
Stanley-linked Australian property group Investa Office Fund
(IOF) IOF.AX by local rival DEXUS Property Group DXS.AX
failed on Friday when it received insufficient shareholder
votes, the target said. Indonesian state miners may team up with a consortium
including prominent businessman Arifin Panigoro to buy a
controlling stake in Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) Corp's NEM.N local
operations, an official at the state enterprises ministry said
on Friday. Greece has received three expressions of interest in the
sale of state railways operator TRAINOSE, the country's
privatisations agency (HRADF) said on Friday. Russia's Aeroflot AFLT.MM is in talks with potential
partners about a joint venture the state-controlled carrier's
deputy chief executive said on Friday, without naming them.
Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said on Friday
that Airbus Group AIR.PA was interested in the privatisation
of Russian Helicopters as the government looks for a strategic
partner for the state-owned company. Global buyout firm Advent International and U.S.-based
Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) BAX.N are among suitors preparing to
submit separate bids to buy unlisted Indian drugmaker Gland
Pharma Ltd, three people with direct knowledge of the matter
told Reuters. Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) said on Friday it had
agreed to buy Irish leasing company Aldus Aviation, which
manages a fleet of 30 jets.