The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0900 GMT on Friday. (For Reuters columns on deals, click on ) ** Competition has heated up for Metlife Inc's Taiwan asset with at least three local financial firms submitting bids, two sources close to the situation on Friday. ** U.S. food company General Mills has won the bidding for a stake in Yoplait, and will pay 800 million euros ($1.1 billion) for 50 percent of a yogurt brand whose U.S. distribution rights it has long held. ** Nippon Steel Corp , the world's fourth-biggest steelmaker, and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd submitted a draft proposal for their planned merger to Japan's antimonopoly watchdog on Friday, Nippon Steel said. ** The final bidding deadline for the sale of failed Japanese consumer lender Takefuji Corp has been pushed back to March 31 from March 22 after last week's massive earthquake rattled financial markets. ** Italian dairy company Granarolo does not see scope to link up with France's Lactalis to take control of Italian peer Parmalat , Granarolo's chairman said in newspaper comments on Friday. ** Dutch private bank Van Lanschot NV said on Friday it is looking at acquisitions and would be interested in buying some assets from Luxembourg-based KBL European Private Bankers. ** Private equity firm BC Partners said on Friday it is to buy mobile phone company Phones 4u from Providence Equity Partners, eyeing value in the growing smartphone market. (Complied by Krishnakali Sengupta in Bangalore)
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