Aug 3--PRNewswire/AsiaNet PURCHASE: Pepsico today created a $25 billion food and beverage company comprising 13 retail brands, announcing the completion of its merger with The Quaker Oats Company. "This is an historic day," PepsiCo chairman and chief executive officer, Steve Reinemund said. DENVER: Newmont Mining Corporation today reported a net operating loss of $23.9 million, compared to last year's $14.2 million, attributed to "weak gold spot prices combined with lower than anticipated equity gold sales", according to a company news release. (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated press releases for worldwide clients. Contact: www.asianet.com.au for full-text versions).