(Adds SoFi, Spectrum Brands, PKN Orlen)
Dec 7 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2100 GMT on Monday:
** Online lending startup Social Finance Inc (SoFi) has held discussions with blank-check acquisition companies about a deal that would allow it to debut in the stock market, people familiar with the matter said. Consumer products company Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc SPB.N has partnered with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners Ltd in a bid to buy Conair Corporation in a deal which could value the hair-care appliance maker around $2 billion, including debt, according to people familiar with the matter. Global investment company The Carlyle Group CG.O has agreed to buy the Acrotec Group, which supplies the watch and medical technology industries, from Castik Capital for an undisclosed sum, it said. State-controlled Polish refiner PKN Orlen PKN.WA is buying regional newspaper publisher Polska Press from its German owner, bringing more of the local media back into Polish hands. Link Administration Holdings LNK.AX received a higher A$3.02 billion ($2.24 billion) buyout proposal from SS&C Technologies Holdings Inc SSNC.O , pitting the U.S. software provider against a Carlyle Group-led consortium in the race to buy the shareholder registry firm. Britain's Rolls-Royce RR.L has signed a deal to sell its civil nuclear instrumentation and control business for an undisclosed sum, kicking off a plan to raise 2 billion pounds ($2.65 billion) from disposals to recover from the pandemic. Australian nickel-gold miner IGO Ltd IGO.AX is in negotiations to buy a minority stake worth close to $1.5 billion in a vehicle holding Tianqi Lithium Corp's 002466.SZ stake in the Greenbushes lithium mine, sources told Reuters. U.S.-listed gaming group IGT IGT.N said it had agreed to sell its Italian gaming machine, sports betting and digital gaming businesses to Apollo's APO.N Gamenet Group for 950 million euros ($1.2 billion) in cash. Down jacket maker Moncler is buying smaller Italian high-end streetwear and fashion brand Stone Island in a 1.15 billion euro ($1.4 billion) deal which could signal an intention to consolidate rather than be acquired. Cisco CSCO.O has agreed to buy London-based cloud communications software company IMImobile PLC IMOI.L for 595 pence per share in cash in a deal valued at about $730 million, including debt. Agri-food company Japfa Ltd JAPF.SI said it would sell an 80% stake in its Indonesian dairy business to private equity firms TPG and Northstar Group for $236 million, sending the Singapore-based firm's shares 4% higher. Real estate management firm Connells Ltd said it had raised its buyout offer for Britain's Countrywide Plc CWD.L by 30% to 325 pence per share. Gas exploration and production company Energean ENOG.L said it was in exclusive talks to buy out its private equity shareholder Kerogen Capital to fully own its Israeli offshore fields.