May 31 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,

acquisitions and disposals were reported by 0930 GMT on Friday:

** Britain's competition regulator said it had started a

probe into Nationwide Building Society's proposed 2.9

billion pound ($3.7 billion) all-cash deal to buy Virgin Money

UK ( CYBBF ).

** Spanish retailer group Dia said it agreed to

sell its business in Brazil for a "symbolic price" of 100 euros

($108.19) and exit the country to focus on more profitable

markets such as Spain and Argentina.

** Debt-laden property developer Country Garden's ( CTRYF )

venture capital arm is looking to sell its stake in Chinese

chipmaker ChangXin Memory Technologies for 2 billion yuan

($276.30 million), Bloomberg News reported.

** Namoi Cotton asked its shareholders to accept

Singapore-based agribusiness Olam Agri's A$144.9

million ($96.08 million) takeover offer for the cotton

processing company.

** Rio Tinto said it entered an agreement to buy

Sumitomo Chemical Co's ( SOMMF ) 20.64% stake in New Zealand

Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) to get full control of the country's

only aluminum smelter.

** Skydance Media has submitted a sweetened offer for its

proposed merger with Paramount Global ( PARAA ), according to a

person familiar with the matter, the latest twist in a

tumultuous negotiation process.

(Compiled by Rajarshi Roy in Bengaluru)