Carlsberg Group reportedly purchased a 30.3% stake in joint venture partner Chongqing Brewery. The Danish brewer hopes to expand its presence in China's USD76 billion liquor market.

Dubai state fund Investment Corp of Dubai (ICD) announced on Thursday that it has purchased the Atlantis hotel from a Dubai World unit for an undisclosed amount.

German pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA will acquire AZ Electronic Materials for GBP1.6 billion. Merck will pay AZ's existing stockholders GBP403.5 in cash for each share.

Glencore Xtrata PLC, led by its chief executive officer Ivan Glasenberg, will be committing more capital in thermal coal than rivals BHP Billiton Ltd., Rio Tinto Group and Anglo American PLC.

BNP Paribas, the largest bank in France, said it will be buying Bank Gospodarki Zywnosciowej, the Polish arm of Dutch bank Rabobank Groep, for EUR 1 billion.

AT&T will be up against smaller rival T-Mobile should the former decide to offer a bid for Verizon Wireless' spectrum block. Verizon, which bought the asset for USD2.4 billion, is seeking to generate USD2.75 billion from the sale.

Colorado firm CSG has bought the key assets of mobile and broadband policy and charging solutions provider Volubill in a deal that will help CSG expand its market reach.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Verizon's to buyout of Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless for USD130 billion, giving Verizon full ownership of the said network.

Top executives of shipping companies Compania Sud Americana de Vapores and Hapag-Lloyd were reportedly negotiating a merger deal. Vapores has suffered losses and is seeking for ways to become more competitive.

NRG Yield Inc, a unit of NRG Energy Inc, has agreed to purchase the assets of Nebraska-based Energy Systems Company for USD120 million in cash.