News: RIO Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds Boston Beer, Paramount Global, Codelco, Caesars Entertainment; Updates Aramco)

May 31 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1950 GMT on Friday:

** Japanese whisky-maker Suntory Holdings is in talks to acquire U.S. brewer Boston Beer SAM.N known for its Samuel Adams brand, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

** A special committee of Paramount Global's PARA.O board agreed to recommend a deal with Skydance Media, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

** Chilean state miner Codelco and the world's No. 2 lithium producer SQM SQMA.SN struck a pivotal deal over a joint venture that will reshape the Andean country's lithium sector and give the state a front-line role in developing the key electric vehicle battery metal.

** Activist investor Carl Icahn has a sizable position in casino operator Caesars Entertainment CZR.O , Bloomberg News reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.

** Saudi Arabia and its bankers on Sunday will start taking orders for as much as $13.1 billion worth of shares in its energy giant Aramco 2222.SE , in a major test of international investor interest in its market.

		** Hess shareholders cast 157.6 million 'yes' votes in 
favor of its sale to Chevron, a Securities and Exchange 

Commission filing showed, 3 million more than required to pass.

** Soho House Co SHCO.N said its board has dissolved a special committee that had been set up to evaluate certain strategic deals, including the possibility of going private.

** UBS UBSG.S completed the merger of the main parent companies of the Swiss bank and Credit Suisse, which it acquired last year after its longtime rival collapsed, putting an end to one of the bastions of the country's financial sector.

** Britain's competition regulator said it had started a probe into Nationwide Building Society's NBS.L proposed 2.9 billion pound ($3.7 billion) all-cash deal to buy Virgin Money UK VMUK.L .

** Spanish retailer group Dia DIDA.MC 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 2007.HK 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 (NAM) asked its shareholders to accept Singapore-based agribusiness Olam Agri's IPO-OLAA.SI A$144.9 million ($96.08 million) takeover offer for the cotton processing company.

** Rio Tinto (RIO) said it entered an agreement to buy Sumitomo Chemical Co's 4005.T 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 PARA.O , according to a person familiar with the matter, the latest twist in a tumultuous negotiation process.