News: BCI Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds: Duke Energy, Patterson-UTI Energy, Mars Inc, Brookfield)

July 5 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1330 GMT on Wednesday:

		** Utility firm Duke Energy  DUK.N  said it would sell 
its commercial distributed generation business to private equity 

firm ArcLight Capital Partners in a $364 million deal.

		** Oilfield services company Patterson-UTI Energy 
 PTEN.O  said it will buy privately held Ulterra Drilling 

Technologies from affiliates of Blackstone Energy Partners in a cash-and-stock deal.

		** Family-owned food giant Mars Inc agreed to buy 
Kevin's Natural Foods, which is known for its sous-vide meals, 

sauces, and side dishes, the companies said.

		** Brookfield's  BN.TO  reinsurance arm will buy 
American Equity Investment Life Holding  AEL.N  in a deal worth 

about $4.3 billion as the Canadian investment firm ramps up its insurance business, the companies said .

** Bechtle BC8G.DE has made an offer to acquire French cybersecurity and digital infrastructure service company Apixit, the German IT-systems provider said in a statement.

** Advent-owned NielsenIQ on Tuesday won EU antitrust approval to acquire German market research firm GfK on the condition GfK sells its consumer panel business to address the regulator's competition concerns.

** Swedish real estate group SBB SBBb.ST has sold almost all of its stake in property company Heba HEBAb.ST , a notice from Sweden's financial watchdog showed on Tuesday, sending SBB's own shares up 15%.

** Indian auto parts maker Samvardhana Motherson International (SMIL) SAMD.NS said on Tuesday it will buy a majority stake in Japan-based auto-part maker Yachiyo Industry's 7298.T four-wheeler business from Honda Motor Co 7267.T to expand its product range.

** Pirelli PIRC.MI has signed an agreement to buy 100% of Hevea-Tec, the biggest independent processor of natural rubber in Brazil, the Milan-based tyremaker said on Tuesday.

** Poland's Orlen PKN.WA said on Tuesday it had acquired Austria's Doppler Energie, expanding the oil and gas company's retail operations to a seventh European market.

** Australia's Costa Group (CGC) said on Tuesday it would give U.S. private equity Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP) access to its books after a A$1.39 billion ($927.41 million) indicative offer for shares it does not already own in the horticulture firm.

** Australian explorer BCI Minerals (BCI) on Tuesday said it signed a non-binding agreement with mining holding firm Mineral Industri Indonesia (MIND ID) to supply salt from its Mardie Salt and Potash project on the Pilbara coast.

** Vivendi VIV.PA has started talks to sell celebrity magazine Gala to Groupe Figaro, the French media giant said on Tuesday.

** Private equity firm Fajr Capital is in exclusive talks to acquire a majority stake in Aster DM Healthcare's Gulf business, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.