News: API Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds: Syngenta, Petrobras, XP Inc)

Jan 7 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1435 GMT on Friday:

** Chinese-owned agrochemicals giant Syngenta has appealed to an administrative court after Rome blocked its attempt to buy Italian vegetable seed producer Verisem, two sources close to the matter told Reuters.

** Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras PETR4.SA said it expects to sell 100% of its preferred stake in petrochemical producer Braskem SA BRKM5.SA by February.

• *Brazilian brokerage XP Inc XP.O said it would buy a stake of up to a 100% in investment platform Banco Modal S.A. MODL11.SA , which is backed by Credit Suisse CSGN.S , valuing it at $528.5 million in an all-share deal.

  ** U.S. investor Cerberus has presented Italy's depositor protection fund (FITD) a non-binding offer to buy Carige CRGI.MI , two Italian newspapers reported.

  ** The New York Times Co NYT.N said on Thursday it has agreed to buy subscription-based sports site The Athletic for $550 million in cash, as the 170-year-old newspaper adds more digital content to grab subscribers.

  ** Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) said conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (WES) would buy it for A$763.6 million ($546.9 million) after Woolworths (WOW) pulled out of a race to acquire the country's top drugstore chain.