MERGERS/DEALS (UPDATE 3)

** UK chip designer Imagination Technologies Plc (IMG.L) said iPhone maker Apple Inc (AAPL.O) has upped its stake in the company to 9.5 percent following a share placement and recent share purchases. [ID:nLQ645927]

** A union representing workers at Irish telecoms group eircom supports the planned investment by Singapore Technologies Telemedia, a unit of Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings [TEM.UL], newspapers said. [ID:nLQ594980]

** A takeover battle for Micro Focus (MCRO.L) bid target Borland Software (BORL.O) has restarted after the U.S. firm said it has received a proposal that it feels would be superior to one made by Micro Focus. [ID:nLQ562742]

** British specialist life insurer Just Retirement (JR.L) said it might get an offer from buyout firm Permira valuing the group at about half its original market capitalisation. [ID:nLQ517118]

** Four savings banks in Spain's Catalonia region are in advanced talks to create what would be the country's eighth-largest savings bank, La Vanguardia newspaper reported. [ID:nLQ520004]

** Network services firm Gemini Communication Ltd (GEMC.BO) said it has formed an equal joint venture with Switzerland-based Geoss Technologies AG to provide metering and payment services to utility firms. [ID:nBMB005661] ** British convenience food maker Uniq (UNUNI.L) agreed to sell its French business, Marie, to France's LDC for 73 million euros ($102 million), including debt, as it moves to focus on its UK operations. [ID:nLQ622705]

** China's ICBC (1398.HK), the world's largest bank by market value, denied rumours it is in talks to buy Wing Hang Bank (0302.HK), a small Hong Kong bank. [ID:nHKG316414]

** Chinese electronics retailer Suning Appliance Co Ltd, which this week agreed to buy a controlling 27.36 percent stake in Japan's Laox (8202.T), said it has the right to increase its stake to 29.33 percent. [ID:nSHA257339]

** Aspen Finance Ltd said it intends to make an unconditional mandatory cash offer for British business park developer Artisan (UK) Plc (ART.L), valuing it at about 4.5 million pounds ($7.5 million). [ID:nBNG448002]

** United Financial Bancorp Inc (UBNK.O) said it agreed to buy CNB Financial Corp (CFNA.OB) for $25 million, topping an offer from Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc (BHLB.O) for about $19.5 million. [ID:nBNG503731] (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore and R. Manikandan and Antonita Madonna Devotta in Bangalore)