The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 1000 GMT on Friday.

** Indian state explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corp is seeking a 20-25 percent stake in a $7.5 billion phase-12 project of Iran's South Pars gas field, media reports said on Friday.

** Ranault may agree to increase its holding in troubled Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ, in return for Moscow taking a stake in the French company, Kommersant business daily reported on Friday.

** A former Philippine trade minister and ally of San Miguel Corp's president on Friday led a group paying nearly $1.4 billion for a 28 percent stake in the food-to-power conglomerate, and may seek a full takeover as San Miguel shifts into high-growth heavy industry and infrastructure.

** Vivendi, which is keen to expand in emerging markets, could be eyeing the Algerian subsidiary of Egypt's Orascom Telecom, French daily La Tribune reports on Friday.

** Softbank Corp, Japan's third-largest mobile phone operator, is among the bidders for struggling telecoms firm Willcom Inc, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday.

** German retailer Metro is in talks to buy the the Privileg white goods brand from mail-order group Otto, the Financial Times Deutschland newspaper reported on Friday without citing any sources.

** Indian financial services firm Reliance Capital said on Friday it plans to take a majority stake in Mumbai-based Quant Capital Group.

** British property fund manager Capital & Regional Plc said its Mall Fund sold a 420,000-square-foot shopping centre to LaSalle Investment Management for 97.9 million pounds ($161.5 million). (Compiled by Mansi Dutta in Bangalore)

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