** O2 Czech Republic's board of directors agreed to spin off its telecommunications infrastructure assets into a $1.9 billion firm, the fixed and mobile service operator said. ** German utility RWE said that closure of the sale of its oil and gas unit DEA to Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman is imminent, after a media report said the date for completion will be March 1. ** In its latest effort to slash costs as commodity prices fall, Rio Tinto is letting go its energy chief and rolling its coal and uranium businesses into two other units, a move that could signal its intention to divest its coal assets.