Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

Entain

Today 20:24

Updates: Entain, Merck & Adds: Credit Agricole, Bumble
June 25 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1930 GMT on Thursday:
    
** Dating app Bumble BMBL.O is exploring a sale amid slowing growth in the online dating sector, according to three people familiar with the matter.
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** France's Credit Agricole CAGR.PA has informed the Italian government it plans to increase its stake in Banco BPM BAMI.MI to near 30%, sources said, bolstering its grip on the country's fourth biggest bank amid a fresh merger wave in the sector.
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** U.S.-based adhesives maker H.B. Fuller <FUL.N> will buy Advanced Medical Solutions Group <AMSU.L> in a cash deal that values the British medical supplier at about £715 million ($942.1 million), including debt, the companies said. nL4N42X0HQ

** German drugmaker Merck KGaA MRCG.DE said on Thursday it would buy U.S. firm Bio-Techne TECH.O for $11.3 billion, its biggest deal in more than a decade, betting on demand for complex drug research and manufacturing tools to grow its life sciences unit. [nL8N42X0VJ]

**  Ladbrokes-owner Entain ENT.L said on Thursday it had agreed to sell a 20% stake in its Central and Eastern Europe business to partner EMMA Capital for €425 million ($483 million), marking the first step in a phased exit aimed at reducing debt. [nL6N42X0T0]

** The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said it has sold its entire 3.52% stake in TAB Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret <TABGD.IS>, a Turkey-based quick-service restaurant operator and multi-brand franchisee, through accelerated bookbuilding. nL8N42X0Q7

** Asia-focused buyout firm MBK Partners said it had agreed to sell elderly care service provider Japan Well-being to U.S. private equity firm Advent International for an undisclosed amount. nL6N42X0K6

** Spanish renewable energy company Audax Renovables <ADXR.MC> said it plans to launch a voluntary takeover bid for Norway's Elmera Group <ELMRA.OL> valued at 4.5 billion Norwegian crowns ($456 million), but Elmera said it had also received a non-binding approach from another strategic player at a "significantly higher" price. nL6N42X0DS

** British budget carrier easyJet <EZJ.L> said it had rejected a fourth, sweetened takeover approach of £6.50 per share from U.S.-based investment firm Castlelake, citing concerns about the deal's ownership structure. nL4N42X0GF

** Australian property firm Lendlease <LLC.AX> said it would sell its remaining 25.1% stake in the Keyton Retirement Living Trust to co-investor Aware Super for A$525 million ($361.62 million). nL4N42X017

** Singapore real estate firm OUE <OVES.SI> said it would buy Crowne Plaza Changi Airport for S$500 million ($385.42 million) in association with Tokyo Century <8439.T>, marking their second hotel collaboration in the city-state's airport.  nL4N42X005

** Volkswagen <VOWG_p.DE> has agreed to sell a 51% stake in marine engine unit Everllence to private equity firm Bain Capital in a deal that will generate proceeds at about €7.4 billion ($8.40 billion), the company said on Wednesday.     nL4N42W1Y9
     

 (Compiled by Rajarshi Roy, Kunal Das and Pragyan Kalita in Bengaluru)
 ((Rajarshi.Roy@thomsonreuters.com))