Also . . .

* NCL Holding, owner of Norwegian Cruise Line, says it’s held talks about a possible combination with Hong Kong-based Star Cruises, as NCL faces a $1.7-billion hostile bid from Carnival Corp. Oslo-based NCL said it would release more information if it receives a firm offer from Star Cruises. NCL is the world’s fourth-largest cruise operator. Chairman Kristian Siem is seeking a buyer to top Carnival’s $3.77-per-share offer, which he says is too low.

* New York Life Insurance Co. agreed to pay $570 million for a Mexican insurance company, the biggest foreign investment in the country’s financial services industry in seven years. New York Life said it’s buying Seguros Monterrey Aetna, Mexico’s third-largest insurer, from Grupo Financiero Bancomer and U.S. health insurer Aetna Inc.

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