(Updates Akzo Nobel ; adds CEZ, Lufthansa, KAR Auction Services, Loblaw, Continental AG , China Development Bank)
April 19 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1300 GMT on Wednesday:
** A group backed by private equity firm KKR & Co KKR.N said it had made a revised A$6.15 billion ($4.65 billion) offer for Australia's biggest lottery operator Tatts Group Ltd TTS.AX , upping the ante in a bidding war against Tabcorp Holdings Ltd TAH.AX . Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX) CVX.N , the second-largest U.S.-based oil company, sold its Canadian gasoline stations and refinery in British Columbia to Parkland Fuel Corp PKI.TO , a marketer of petroleum products, for C$1.46 billion ($1.09 billion). Ant Financial, the payment affiliate of Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) Group Holding Ltd BABA.N , has acquired Singapore-based payment service helloPay Group, as part of the Chinese firm's drive to boost its Alipay brand and presence in Southeast Asia. A Japanese government-backed fund and policy bank are considering a joint bid with Broadcom Ltd AVGO.O for Toshiba Corp's 6502.T semiconductor business, a move that would vault the U.S. chipmaker into the lead to buy the prized unit, the Asahi newspaper said. Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) SCB.BK has entered into exclusive talks with Hong Kong insurer FWD Group to sell its life insurance arm, which could raise $3 billion for Thailand's third-biggest lender, people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Canadian grocery and pharmacy retailer Loblaw Cos Ltd L.TO said it would sell its gas station business to asset manager Brookfield Business Partners LP BBU_u.TO for about C$540 million ($402.17 million). The Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) ISDBA.UL plans to take at least a 10 percent stake in Turkey's state-run stock exchange as the multilateral lender ramps up activities in the country, a senior official of the bank told Reuters. Akzo Nobel AKZO.AS , the Dutch paint maker trying to fend off a 24.6 billion euro ($26 billion) takeover by U.S. rival PPG Industries Inc (NYSE:PPG) PPG.N , fleshed out its alternative plan to separate its chemicals business and pay shareholders 1.6 billion euros in extra dividends this year. British materials testing company Exova Group EXO.L said UK-based Element Materials Technology would buy it in a deal valued at 620.3 million pounds ($795.3 million). Dutch eyeglass store operator Grandvision GVNV.AS said it will acquire Tesco 's TSCO.L chain of more than 200 opticians. Lufthansa LHAG.DE is in talks with Iran Air to provide catering, maintenance and pilot training services as it seeks to take advantage of new business opportunities in the country, executives from the German carrier said. China Development Bank is considering providing financing for a Chinese consortium seeking to buy a stake in Russia's largest gold producer Polyus PLZL.MM , two sources familiar with discussions about the potential deal told Reuters. German automotive supplier Continental AG CONG.DE and a unit of China Unicom 0762.HK have agreed to set up a joint venture in China to offer intelligent transport systems, such as vehicle data services and connected vehicle software. Centurion Midstream Group LLC said it acquired a petroleum marketing and transportation business that operates in West Texas from Agave Energy Holdings, a subsidiary of Lucid Energy Group. India's online grocery delivery service BigBasket and smaller rival Grofers India Pvt Ltd have begun talks on a possible merger, Indian newspaper Mint reported, citing sources. Sweden's SCA SCAb.ST has rejected a recent bid for its hygiene arm and an offer last year for its forestry business, Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter reported, citing sources. Top shareholder Invesco Perpetual has trimmed its stake in technology incubator Allied Minds ALML.L for the second time in as many weeks, according to regulatory filings. An Italian regulator ordered French media group Vivendi VIV.PA on Tuesday to cut its stake in either Telecom Italia TLIT.MI or broadcaster Mediaset MS.MI within a year, ruling it was in breach of rules designed to prevent a concentration of power. Czech utility CEZ CEZP.PR aims to sell all of its Bulgarian assets and has received expressions of interest mainly from investors in the Balkan country, a company official said. KAR Auction Services Inc KAR.N , a provider of car auction and salvage services, said it would acquire DRIVIN, which aggregates automotive retail, pricing, registration and economic data to match vehicle inventory to dealer demand, for $43 million in stock. Renova Energia SA RNEW11.SA sold a wind farm project to a unit of AES Corp AES.N for 600 million reais ($193 million) on Tuesday, enabling the Brazilian renewable power company to replenish cash amid a severe cash crunch. Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:VZ) VZ.N has agreed to buy optical fiber from Corning Inc GLW.N for at least $1.05 billion over the next three years as the No. 1 U.S. wireless carrier aims to improve its network infrastructure, the companies said on Tuesday.