July 25 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,

acquisitions and disposals were reported by 0930 GMT on Friday:

** British lender Close Brothers said it has agreed to

sell Winterflood Securities to financial services company Marex

Group for approximately 103.9 million pounds ($140.20 million)

in cash.

** Pinnacle Financial Partners ( PNFP ) and Synovus Financial ( SNV )

have agreed to merge in an $8.6 billion all-stock deal,

forming one of the largest regional banks in the southeastern

United States with over $115 billion in combined assets.

** French-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics said

on Thursday it would acquire part of NXP Semiconductors' ( NXPI )

sensor unit for up to $950 million in cash.

** The $8.4 billion merger between Paramount Global ( PARAA ) and

Skydance Media won approval from U.S. regulators on Thursday,

clearing the way for a sale that evolved into a clash over press

freedom in the era of President Donald Trump.

** Testing and inspection group SGS extended its string

of acquisitions with three new companies on Friday, as its

half-year revenue grew 5.3% organically and met market

expectations.

** CK Hutchison's ( CKHUF ) plan to sell most of its $22.8

billion ports business is unlikely to be finalised anytime soon,

with political brinkmanship set to continue, and sources saying

that a Sunday deadline for exclusive talks was likely to be

extended.

(Compiled by Rajarshi Roy and Apratim Sarkar in Bengaluru)