March 28 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1015 GMT on Tuesday:
** Barclays BARC.L is in exclusive talks to sell its stake in Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe BARC.ZI to Malawi's First Merchant Bank FMB.MV , First Merchant Bank said in a statement on its website. Aviva Plc AV.L is exploring a sale of its Friends Provident International unit, which offers life assurance and investment products, in a deal that could raise between $500 million and $700 million, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. Bain Capital Private Equity has decided not to proceed with the acquisition of Belgian packaging company Resilux RESI.BR due to an anti-trust ruling in Germany, the investment company said. Amazon.com AMZN.O has agreed to buy Middle East online retailer Souq.com, thwarting a last minute bid by Dubai billionaire Mohamed Alabbar's Emaar Malls EMAA.DU . Japanese beer maker Asahi Group Holdings Ltd 2502.T said it will take on 7.4 billion euros ($8 billion) in bank loans to finance its acquisition of European assets from Anheuser-Busch InBev SAC NV ABI.BR . China Southern Airlines Co Ltd 1055.HK600029.SS said it will sell a small stake to American Airlines Group Inc AAL.O in a $200 million deal that will give the carriers better access to the world's two largest travel markets. British housebuilder Redrow RDW.L said it did not intend to make an offer for rival Bovis BVS.L just over two weeks after its approach was rejected as too low, leaving one potential bidder for the ailing firm. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) 9501.T and Chubu Electric Power Co 9502.T said they had signed an agreement to integrate their fossil fuel power plants under their JERA Co joint venture. Akzo Nobel AKZO.AS , the Dutch paints and coatings maker trying to avoid being taken over by larger U.S. rival PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) PPG.N , said it would detail its strategy to remain independent on April 19. The new head of Spain's Banco Popular POP.MC , Emilio Saracho, is in talks to sell the lender's property portfolio and also a stake to Libra Group, online newspaper El Confidencial reported. Schlumberger SLB.N , the world's top oil services provider, has bought a stake in upstart rig operator Borr Drilling BORR.NFF . Strauss Coffee has agreed to buy back a 25.1 percent stake in the company held by buyout firm TPG Capital Management for 257 million euros ($279 million), its parent company Strauss Group said. Australian sandalwood plantation group Quintis Ltd QIN.AX said its managing director has resigned and will consider making a takeover offer for the company together with an unnamed international group. Brazilian miner Vale SA VALE5.SA said on Monday it has wrapped up the sale of a stake in Mozambique's Moatize coal project to Japan's Mitsui & Co Ltd 8031.T and received an initial payment of $733 million, the company said in a security filing. Investment management firm Red Mountain Capital Partners LLC said in a letter on Monday that it is pushing apparel and accessories maker Deckers Outdoor Corp's DECK.N board to explore a sale of the company. Russia's biggest bank Sberbank SBER.MM is selling its subsidiary in Ukraine to a consortium of investors, which include Norvik Bank (Latvia) and a Belarussian private company, Sberbank said in a statement on Monday. Olive Garden owner Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:DRI) DRI.N said on Monday it would buy Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen for $780 million in an all-cash transaction. Bank holding company Home BancShares Inc HOMB.O said it would acquire regional lender Stonegate Bank SGBK.O in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $778.4 million. ($1 = 0.9208 euros)