Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

Oct 30 - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0530 GMT on Friday.

** Australia has given foreign-investment approval for Chinese steel-maker Baosteel <600019.SS> to take a 15 percent stake iron ore explorer Aquila Resources <AQA.AX>, Aquila said.

To read more, please double click on [ID:nSYU008973]

** U.S. consulting firm Resources Connection Inc <RECN.O> said it is buying and combining the high profile public relations firm Sitrick and Co and restructuring firm Brincko Associates to create a subsidiary that will be headed by famed crisis manager Michael Sitrick. [ID:nN29383663]

** Australian grain marketing and rural services group AWB Ltd <AWB.AX> has started talks with a preferred party for the sale of its HiFert unit, the company said in a statement. [ID:nSYU008969]

** U.S. antitrust regulators approved drugmaker Merck & Co's <MRK.N> $41.1 billion takeover of rival Schering-Plough Corp <SGP.N> on condition that each company sell some assets, the Federal Trade Commission said. [ID:nN29378571]