The $2.1 billion stake acquisition of Anbang Insurance Group in China Merchants Bank Co has added to the speculation that the insurer is no longer interested in acquiring Hong Kong-based Wing Hang Bank Ltd.

China's biggest e-commerce firm, Alibaba Group Holdings, will be buying stakes in Haier Electronics Group and Qingdao Haier Logistics Co, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Japan's Sumitomo Life Insurance Co said it would be acquiring a 40% stake in the life insurance unit of Bank Negara Indonesia in a deal worth JPY 36.2 billion or USD 354 million.

Bumi Chairman Samin Tan confirmed to Bloomberg by email that a lender had given him approval to finance his acquisition of the stake held by the Bakrie Group in the Indonesia-based coal producer.

Bill Stiritz, the Chief Executive Officer of Post Holdings Inc, raised his Herbalife stake to 6.4% from 5.3% and said he intends to hold discussions with Herbalife about possible strategies for financing.

Nedbank Group, headed by Chief Executive Officer Mike Brown, said it plans to use its option to acquire a stake in Togo-based Ecobank Transnational Inc valued at more than USD 500 million.

CLP Holdings said it will be purchasing stakes in Castle Peak Power Co and Hong Kong Pumped Storage Development Co for a price tag of USD 1.8 billion.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, said it has bought a 33.3% stake in Swiss carrier Darwin Airline for an undisclosed amount.

According to sources, there were at least seven bidders interested in acquiring a minority stake in Italian fashion house, Versace.

KKR & Co LP, a US private equity fund, had acquired a substantial minority stake in Weststar Aviation valued USD200 billion, said a Reuters report.