Oct 6 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 0930 GMT on Friday:
** Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart is a step closer to being able to block Albemarle's $4.3 billion proposed takeover of Liontown Resources after increasing her stake again in the lithium miner.
** Exxon Mobil XOM.N is in advanced talks to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources PXD.N in a deal that could value the Permian shale basin producer at about $60 billion, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
** Australian gold miner Newcrest Mining (NCM) said Newmont Corporation NEM.N , its suitor for a proposed A$26.2 billion ($16.68 billion) buyout, had received all government regulatory approvals required for the deal to go through.
** Real estate investment firm Rithm Capital RITM.N is sticking by its original offer to buy Sculptor Capital Management SCU.N agreed in July, even as the hedge fund's special committee evaluates a sweetened bid from a consortium headed by investor Boaz Weinstein, according to a regulatory filing made on Thursday.
** Shareholders of global grains merchant and oilseeds processor Bunge BG.N approved the company's acquisition of Glencore-backed GLEN.L Viterra during a shareholder meeting on Thursday, Bunge said in a statement.
