March 16 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1000 GMT on Thursday:
** Virtu Financial Inc VIRT.O has made a bid to buy rival trading firm KCG Holdings Inc KCG.N that could help Virtu bolster its businesses that have softened under reduced market volatility. Hong Kong's Chow Tai Fook Enterprises said it had agreed to purchase Australian gas and electricity retailer Alinta Energy, in a deal two sources familiar with the matter said was valued at about A$4 billion ($3 billion). Italy's biggest insurer Generali GASI.MI played down the prospects of a takeover as it reported its highest ever full-year operating profit and said it would raise dividends and speed up cost cuts. Saudi Arabia's King Salman oversaw the signing of deals worth potentially $65 billion as he began a visit to Beijing on Thursday, as the world's largest oil producer looks to cement ties with the world's second-largest economy. Japan's Daishi Bank 8324.T and Hokuetsu Bank 8325.T are in the final stages of agreeing to integrate operations, public broadcaster NHK said, in another move that would consolidate regional lenders as the nation's population shrinks. German utility EnBW EBKG.DE said it struck a deal to buy a 6.28 percent stake in local peer MVV Energie MVVGn.DE from French energy group Engie ENGIE.PA , which is worth 91 million euros ($97 million) based on MVV's current market value. Hedge fund investor Rainer-Marc Frey has built a 7.5 percent stake in Swiss derivatives specialist Leonteq LEON.S , the company said. The acquisition of Indian refiner Essar Oil ESRO.CL , led by Russian oil company Rosneft ROSN.MM , is set to be completed "in the nearest future, this month", VTB Chief Executive Andrei Kostin told Reuters. Brazilian mining company Vale SA VALE5.SA said on Wednesday it is nearing conclusion of a deal to sell a stake in Mozambique's Moatize coal project to Japan's Mitsui & Co Ltd 8031.T . Starboard Value LP, the activist hedge fund that had pressured Macy's Inc (NYSE:M) M.N to separate its real estate from its retail business, has sold its stake in the U.S. department store operator, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.