Jan 8 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,

acquisitions, and disposals were reported by 1030 GMT on

Wednesday:

** Italy's Banca Ifis said it was launching a 298

million euro ($309 million) cash and shares exchange offer to

take over rival specialty lender illimity.

** Roche said it planned to complete its purchase of

U.S. biopharmaceutical company Poseida Therapeutics ( PSTX ), a

specialist in complex immune cell therapies to treat several

types of blood cancer.

** Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co ( GT ) said on Tuesday that it

will sell its Dunlop brand to Japan's Sumitomo Rubber Industries ( SMTUF )

for $701 million in cash as part of a plan to

streamline its business.

(Compiled by Rajarshi Roy and Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru)