The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Thursday: ** Data intelligence specialist GB Group (GBGP.L) said it would buy U.S.-based peer Acuant Intermediate for an enterprise value of $736 million, expanding its identity verification and identity fraud prevention business. ** VTB Group (VTBR.MM) announced its intention to sell around 17.28% of ordinary shares in Russian food chain Magnit (MGNT.MM), completing its investment cycle and making privately-held Marathon Group the largest shareholder in the retailer. read more ** Private equity-backed Norwegian energy company Sval Energi is nearing an agreement to acquire Spirit Energy"s oil and gas operations in the country for around $400 million, industry and banking sources said. read more ** Unilever Plc (ULVR.L) has agreed to sell its global tea business to CVC Capital Partners for 4.5 billion euros ($5.1 billion), concluding a process of reviewing and spinning off the division that took more than two years. read more ** Brazilian investor Nelson Tanure has reached a deal to take over control of medical diagnostics company Alliar (AALR3.SA), O Globo columnist Lauro Jardim reported, sending its shares higher. ** EFG Hermes, Egypt"s biggest investment bank, has completed its takeover of state-owned Arab Investment Bank, transforming itself into an Egyptian universal bank, it said. ** Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) has agreed a $3.3 billion cash deal to buy Dicerna Pharmaceuticals (DRNA.O) which specializes in therapeutics that counteract disease-causing genes, it said. read more ** Financial services company ODDO BHF is in talks to buy Paris-based Quilvest Banque Privee, which manages around 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) in assets, the companies said. read more ** Britain"s Playtech (PTEC.L) said it has received a takeover approach from a group led by former Formula One boss Eddie Jordan, the third such interest in the gambling software maker, setting up a potential bidding battle. read more ** Bitdeer Technologies said it plans to go public by merging with blank-check firm Blue Safari Group Acquisition Corp (BSGA.O) in a deal valuing the cryptocurrency mining platform at $4 billion. read more ** Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) is preparing to sell its troubled IT services unit, T-Systems, Manager Magazin reported, citing people familiar with the matter. read more ** China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) is selling its entire stake in streaming services firm HengTen Network Group (0136.HK) for HK$2.13 billion ($273.5 million), as the cash-strapped developer struggles to avoid a debilitating default on its debts. ** Japan"s Kubota Corp (6326.T) will raise its stake in tractor maker Escorts Ltd (ESCO.NS) to as much as 44.8%, the companies said, sending shares of the Indian firm to a record high. read more ** U.S. private equity firm Carlyle (CG.O) said talks about a possible takeover offer for Metro Bank (MTRO.L) have ended, sending shares in the British lender tumbling 16%. read more ** Flutter Entertainment has acquired Tombola, one of the UK"s leading online bingo operators, for an enterprise value of 402 million pounds ($542 million), the Paddy Power, Betfair and Fanduel owner said.