March 17 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,

acquisitions and disposals were reported by 0930 GMT on Monday:

** Drugmaker AstraZeneca has agreed to buy

biotechnology company EsoBiotec for up to $1 billion, it said,

seeking to accelerate the development of its cell therapy

capabilities, particularly for cancer and autoimmune diseases.

** Australia's Ramelius Resources ( RMLRF ) will take over

smaller peer Spartan Resources ( GYYSF ), valuing the miner at

A$2.4 billion ($1.5 billion) on a debt-free basis, as rising

bullion prices drive a wave of consolidation in the sector.

** Korea's Hanwha aims to buy up to 9.9% of Australian

shipbuilder Austal ( AUTLF ) in an after-market offer following

its failed A$1.02 billion ($646.17 million) takeover bid last

year, a term sheet showed.

** Steppe Agroholding acquired full control of RZ Agro,

which it had previously shared with members of the French family

of global grain merchant Louis Dreyfus, Interfax reported on

Sunday, citing a source familiar with the deal. The deal size

was unknown but it was done at "a big discount", the source told

Interfax.

** Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd

will acquire Innovation Network Corporation of Japan's stake in

telecommunications infrastructure company EDOTCO Group. The

financial details of the deal were not disclosed in the

statement.

(Compiled by Rajarshi Roy and Ateev Bhandari in Bengaluru)