News: S32 Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds: First Advantage, International Game Technology, CMA CGM

Updates: GXO Logistics)

Feb 29 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1430 GMT on Thursday:

		** Background screening services provider First 
Advantage  FA.O  will buy rival Sterling Check  STER.O  in a 

$2.2 billion cash-and-stock deal, the companies said, seeking to navigate slowing demand due to the turbulent global economy.

		** U.S.-based warehousing firm GXO Logistics  GXO.N   
offered to buy UK peer Wincanton  WIN.L  for about 762 million 

pounds ($965 million), topping an offer by CEVA Logistics.

		** International Game Technology  IGT.N  said it was 
separating its Global Gaming and PlayDigital businesses and 

combining them with gaming machine maker Everi Holdings EVRI.N in a deal valued at $6.2 billion, including debt.

		** France's CMA CGM has completed a $5 billion takeover 
of Bollore Logistics, its biggest-ever acquisition, and said it 

had funds for more deals as it seeks to counter volatility in container shipping.

** India's top conglomerate Reliance Industries RELI.NS and Walt Disney DIS.N announced the merger of their India TV and streaming media assets, creating an $8.5 billion entertainment juggernaut far ahead of rivals in the world's most populous nation.

** Guyana will accept whatever decision emerges from discussions between U.S. oil firms over the sale of Hess Corp HES.N in the dispute between Exxon Mobil XOM.N and Chevron CVX.N , Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said.

** Australia's South32 Ltd (S32) said it had agreed to sell its Illawarra metallurgical coal business to a consortium led by an Indonesian-owned company for $1.65 billion, exiting coal to focus on expanding in copper and zinc.