Mergers and acquisitions

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1945 GMT on Wednesday:

** Mercado Pago, the financial arm of Latin American e-commerce firm MercadoLibre NASDAQ:MELI, announced on Wednesday the purchase of Nikos DTVM, a Brazilian distributor of investment products, in a move that marks the fintech's first acquisition in the country.

** Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has withdrawn the $18.7 billion offer it led to buy Australian gas producer Santos ASX:STO after months of wrangling over valuation and terms.

** French luxury group Kering EURONEXT:KER has named Francesca Bellettini as chief executive of Gucci, replacing Stefano Cantino after only nine months at the Italian fashion brand.

** Shares of StubHub (STUB.N) rose about 8% in their New York Stock Exchange debut, valuing the ticket reseller marketplace at $9.32 billion, adding to a streak of positive day-one receptions for technology platforms.

** UniCredit MIL:UCG CEO Andrea Orcel named Poland, alongside Italy and Germany, as the countries where a merger or acquisition could most benefit the bank.

** Global asset manager Rithm Capital NYSE:RITM said it had agreed to acquire office portfolio owner Paramount Group PGRE.N for $1.6 billion in cash, betting on a rebound in office real estate.

** Two investors are preparing a takeover bid for German sportswear maker Puma XETR:PUM, Manager Magazin reported, pushing its share price up more than 11%.

** EU antitrust regulators have resumed their investigation into candy maker Mars' $36 billion bid for Pringles maker Kellanova NYSE:K, setting a December 19 deadline for their decision, according to an update on the European Commission website.

** The banking arm of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group <8316.T> has agreed to buy an additional 4.2% stake in India's Yes Bank from an affiliate of Carlyle Group for 51 billion yen ($349 million), it said.

** Global investment firm KKR has acquired Japan-based insurance distributor Hoken Minaoshi Hompo Group from investment fund Advantage Partners, the companies said on Tuesday.

** Commodity trader and investment company ResInvest Group said it is in talks to buy Datteln 4, the 1-gigawatt coal-fired power plant Uniper must sell as part of the German utility's government rescue in 2022.

** U.S. drugmaker Bristol Myers Squibb said it has signed an agreement to sell its 60% ownership stake in a pharmaceutical joint venture in China.

** Activist investor Elliott Management said it has built a stake of more than $2 billion in human resources software provider Workday , while voicing support for the company's leadership.