(Adds AA Plc , Highline do Brasil, Bertelsmann, Macquarie)
Nov 24 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2130 GMT on Tuesday:
** British roadside recovery company AA Plc AAAA.L has agreed to be acquired by private equity groups Warburg Pincus International and TowerBrook Capital Partners, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Highline do Brasil, a portfolio company of U.S. private equity firm Digital Colony, has reached a deal to acquire telecom infrastructure firm Phoenix Tower do Brasil, it said, adding new 2,500 sites to its portfolio. German media group Bertelsmann made the highest bid in an auction for Simon & Schuster, the publishing unit of media company ViacomCBS Inc VIACA.O , the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Australia's Macquarie is looking at the idea of syndicating the purchase of a stake in fast broadband company Open Fiber from Italian utility Enel ENEI.MI , sources said. Japanese beverage maker Kirin Holdings Co Ltd 2503.T confirmed that top Australian cheesemaker Bega Cheese Ltd BGA.AX was among the candidates it was talking to for the sale of its Lion Dairy business, but that no decision had been made. Swedish truck maker Scania, a unit under Volkswagen AG's VOWG_p.DE commercial vehicle arm Traton SE 8TRA.DE , has bought a truck company in China to start making vehicles for the first time in the world's biggest auto market, it told Reuters. Swiss-Irish bakery firm Aryzta ARYN.S said that Elliott Capitol Advisors had amended its potential takeover offer for an indicative price of 0.80 Swiss francs per share. British real estate agent Countrywide CWD.L has appointed former William Hill WMH.L chief Philip Bowcock as its CEO to lead talks on a new rescue deal, as shareholders rejected an offer from private equity firm Alchemy Partners. Saudi Arabian investment bank Jadwa Investment's private equity arm has hired HSBC HSBA.L to advise on the sale of its stake in Abu Dhabi healthcare group UEMedical, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. McCormick (NYSE:MKC) & Co Inc MKC.N said it has agreed to buy hot-sauce maker Cholula from private equity firm L Catterton for $800 million, as the spice maker looks to cash in on robust demand for packaged foods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Swedish real estate firm SBB SBBb.ST launched a 30 billion Norwegian crown ($3.34 billion) takeover bid for Norway's Entra ENTRA.OL , but the approach was met with a swift rejection. Italian travel caterer group Autogrill AGL.MI said it had reached an agreement for the sale of its Spanish operations to Barcelona-based restaurant group Areas. Sasol Ltd SOLJ.J said it had agreed to sell its 50% interest in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) manufacturing plant in Texas, to INEOS Gemini HDPE Holding Co for $404 million, to focus on specialty chemicals and cut down debt. Activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp has invested at least $30 million in Cataleya Energy, a small firm focused on oil exploration in Guyana, the world's newest oil and gas hot spot, two people familiar with the matter said.