(Adds Bombardier, Grupo Biotoscana, CVC, Sabanci Holding , Carlyle; updates ACS)
July 21 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Friday:
** Canada's Bombardier BBDb.TO and Germany's Siemens SIEGn.DE are in the final stages of talks to combine their rail operations, several sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, in a deal that would give the two added heft to compete against Chinese rail giant CRRC 601766.SS Mining giant Glencore Plc GLEN.L is working with a Canadian pension fund to create a standalone 50:50 joint venture for its portfolio of royalty assets, two sources with knowledge with the matter said. Tissue Regenix TRX.L said it had raised 40 million pounds ($52 million) by selling new shares to buy CellRight Technologies, a U.S regenerative medicine company that specialises in spine surgery and orthopaedics. U.S. oilfield services giant Schlumberger NV (NYSE:SLB) SLB.N has agreed to buy a 51 percent stake in Russian peer Eurasia Drilling Co (EDC) in a deal likely to test Russia-U.S. ties. Hungary's OTP Bank OTPB.BU has agreed to buy Romania's Banca Romaneasca from the National Bank of Greece (NBG), two sources with knowledge of the deal told Reuters, continuing OTP's acquisition drive in central and eastern Europe. Turkish construction and investment firm Ronesans Holding's healthcare unit has signed a preliminary public-private partnership (PPP) deal for a $500 million hospital project in Kazakhstan, the firm's chairman said. A secretive U.S. government panel has objected to at least nine acquisitions of U.S. companies by foreign buyers so far this year, people familiar with the matter said, a historically high number that bodes poorly for China's overseas buying spree. Spain's Banco Santander SAN.MC is seeking bids by next Monday for some 30 billion euros ($34.91 billion) of property assets from Banco Popular, three sources familiar with the matter said. Spanish builder ACS ACS.MC is in talks with various pension and infrastructure funds and private equity firms on a potential counter-bid for Abertis ABE.MC , two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The owner of a Chinese firm behind a bid to take over English club Southampton said the deal was being held up and that he wasn't sure if the current owner still wanted to sell, casting doubts over the long-running negotiations. Baidu Inc BIDU.O and JD.com JD.O will join other big Chinese technology firms, including Tencent Holdings 0700.HK , to jointly invest about $12 billion into state-owned mobile carrier China Unicom, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Private equity firms Blackstone (NYSE:BX) BX.N and CVC Capital Partners CVC.UL joined a rush to snap up payments companies with a 2.9 billion pound ($3.7 billion) bid for Paysafe Group. Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co 8031.T said it has agreed to sell its entire 25 percent stake in UK hydro power firm First Hydro to Brookfield Renewable Partners L.P. BEP_u.TO for more than 5 billion yen ($45 million). Germany's Siemens SIEGn.DE tried to distance itself from a Crimean sanctions scandal, halting deliveries of power equipment to Russian state-controlled customers and reviewing supply deals. Private equity group Permira has bought a stake of at least 10 percent in payments firm Klarna, one of Europe's most highly valued tech startups, the companies said. India's Bajaj Auto BAJA.NS is close to forming an alliance but the name of the other party would be announced once the formalities were completed, Chief Financial Officer Kevin D'sa told analysts at a post-earnings call. Mexican breadmaker Bimbo said on Thursday it agreed to buy U.S. firm East Balt Bakeries for $650 million. Investors have placed bids worth nearly five times the amount of shares put on sale at the midpoint of a suggested price range for the Brazilian listing of Colombia-based pharmaceutical Grupo Biotoscana SA, three people with knowledge of the transaction told Reuters. A member of the founding family of Turkey's Sabanci Holding SAHOL.IS has elected to sell a 2.5 percent stake in the industrial and financial conglomerate on the Istanbul stock exchange, a regulatory filing showed. An affiliate of buyout firm Carlyle CG.O will buy a 26 percent stake in each of two credit card joint ventures of State Bank of India SBI.NS , the top Indian lender said. Private equity firms CVC and PAI Partners have agreed to jointly buy the remaining shares they did not already own in Spanish retailer Cortefiel, the company said, adding that the deal would help it reduce its debt.