LONDON (AFX) - Here are the top stories on AFX News Enel says it, Acciona in advanced talks on Endesa bid; no deal yet
MILAN (AFX) - Enel SpA said it and Acciona SA are in advanced talks to make a joint offer for Endesa SA if the bid by E.ON AG for the Spanish energy group fails.
The company said that talks with Acciona are progressing 'positively' but no agreement has been reached. Enel added that the operation would only unfold if E.On AG does not obtain 50 pct of Endesa's capital in public bid currently underway. Axa to pay 1.15 bln eur for stake in BMPS bancassurance, pensions activities
PARIS (AFX) - Axa said it has agreed a partnership with Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA (BMPS) covering bancassurance and pensions activities in Italy, and will pay 1.15 bln eur to acquire 50 pct of certain BMPS assets as well as management rights over the insurance and pension assets.
Axa said it will acquire 50 pct of MPS Vita (life insurance), MPS Danni (non-life insurance) and the BMPS pension funds business. TNK-BP to bid for 9.44 pct of Rosneft
MOSCOW (AFX) - TNK-BP will bid for a 9.44 pct stake in Russian state oil company Rosneft, which is up for sale as part of the auction next Tuesday of assets in bankrupt Yukos, a company spokesman said.
'We are interested in the assets and we expect to participate in the auction,' spokesman Peter Henshaw told Agence France-Presse. EU stops clock again on probe into Sony/BMG music merger
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said it has stopped the clock again on its probe into the merger of Sony Corp and Bertelsmann AG's recorded music divisions pending further information on the deal from the companies.
'Please note that the commission yesterday sent an Article 11 decision to the parties involved in the Sony/BMG merger for failure to provide requested information,' it said in a press statement. Mylan, Actavis pull out of race for Merck's generics unit - report
MUMBAI (AFX) - Mylan Laboratories and Actavis Group have pulled out of the race for Merck KGaA's generics business, reported the Economic Times.
The remaining contenders now are India's Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, along with private equity investors Fortress Investment Group and Greater Pacific Capital, and global giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. RWE's Dutch energy unit to sell gas networks to NRE for 400 mln eur
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - RWE AG unit RWE Energy Nederland NV said it has reached an agreement with NRE, a Dutch gas and electricity distribution company, for the sale of two gas distribution network companies for 400 mln eur in the second quarter of this year.
Ownership of Obragas Net and Netbeheer Haarlemmermeer will be handed over in the second quarter of this year. Deutsche Telekom, EDS in exclusive talks on tie-up with T-Systems - report
FRANKFURT (AFX) - Deutsche Telekom AG is in exclusive talks with US telecoms service company EDS regarding a possible partnership with the German telecoms giant's unit T-Systems, Handelsblatt said, citing industry sources.
T-Systems and EDS declined comment to Handelsblatt. DaimlerChrysler says no 'imminent' announcement on Chrysler sale
FRANKFURT (AFX) - DaimlerChrysler AG is not planning an 'imminent' announcement on the sale of its US unit Chrysler, a spokesman said, denying earlier market speculation.
'There is nothing new on Chrysler,' the spokesman said today. Areva eyes US nuclear fuel cycle business in partnership with Japan cos - report
TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - France's Areva intends to enter the US nuclear fuel cycle business in partnership with US and Japanese companies, the Nikkei reported, citing Areva's CEO Anne Lauvergeon.
According to the Nikkei, the US government plans to set up spent-nuclear-fuel reprocessing facilities, with companies likely to be decided through competitive bidding. BASF's Wintershall to invest more than 3.5 bln eur by 2010
BERLIN (AFX) - BASF AG's oil & gas unit Wintershall wants to invest more than 3.5 bln eur by 2010, primarily in Siberia, with about 1 bln eur earmarked for this year, the unit said at its full-year conference.
The company also plans to invest in construction of Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream as well as in infrastructure in its German home market. Wolters Kluwer sells learning ops to Bridgepoint for 750 mln eur - report
AMSTERDAM (AFX) - Wolters Kluwer NV is understood to have agreed to sell its education division to international private equity group Bridgepoint Capital for over 750 mln eur, the Financial Times reported, without citing sources.
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