MERGERS/DEALS (UPDATE 3)

** Technology consulting and interactive marketing company Sapient Corp (SAPE.O) plans to buy Nitro Group LLC, an independent advertising agency, for about $50 million as it looks to spread its reach to the traditional advertising space. [ID:nBNG112369]

** Rio Tinto's (RIO.AX) and BHP Billiton's (BLT.L) proposed iron-ore joint venture has "a strong monopolistic flavour" and Chinese firms are actively seeking ways to cope with it, state media cited a senior official as saying. [ID:nSYD417400]

** Norwegian conglomerate Orkla (ORK.OL) is set to acquire U.S aluminium extrusion company Indalex [INDHFO.UL], strengthening its position in north American markets. [ID:nLH822583]

** Chinese agricultural products producer and distributor Chaoda Modern Agriculture (0682.HK) is selling $200 million worth of shares at a discount, according to a term sheet obtained by Reuters. [ID:nHKG210160]

** Shareholders in Australia's Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group (MCG.AX) will vote on a $1.3 billion takeover bid from a Canadian pension fund on June 30, Macquarie Communications said. [ID:nSYD501996]

** Japan's Daiwa Securities Group Inc (8601.T) will invest in real estate investment trust DA Office Investment Corp (8976.T) and buy a firm that manages its portfolio of office buildings, three sources familiar with the matter said. [ID:nT58298]

** U.S. fertilizer maker CF Industries Holdings Inc (CF.N) said it is still committed to buying rival Terra Industries Inc (TRA.N) as it faces down a hostile bid from Canada's Agrium Inc (AGU.TO). [ID:nN16280370]

** Tetra Tech Inc (TTEK.O), which provides water engineering services, said it completed the acquisition of three companies with a combined revenue of $85 million. [ID:nBNG445072]

** Singapore-listed commodities firm Noble Group (NOBG.SI) said it controlled 87.7 percent of Australia's Gloucester Coal (GCL.AX) at the close of its offer for the company. [nSGC001182]

** Italian sportswear brand Diadora has reached an agreement with shoe maker Geox's (GEO.MI) founder and chairman Mario Moretti Polegato to buy its assets through his family's investment arm, LIR. (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore, Antonita Madonna Devotta and Archana Shankar in Bangalore)