News: PSQ Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds FEMSA, R1 RCM, Trafigura, Royal Mail, RedBird IMI, Talen Energy, Hewlett Packard Enterprise)

Aug 1 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1330 GMT on Thursday:

** Mexico's FEMSA FEMSAUBD.MX said it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire the retail operations of Delek US Holdings DK.N for $385 million.

** R1 RCM RCM.O said private equity firms TowerBrook Capital Partners and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) would acquire the healthcare technology company in a deal that values it at $8.9 billion.

** Rhone Energies, a consortium of commodity trader Trafigura TRAFGF.UL and Entara LLC, has agreed with ExxonMobil's ESSO SAF ESSF.PA to buy the Fos-sur-Mer refinery and Toulouse and Villette-de-Vienne terminals in France.

** The British government has called in Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's takeover bid for Royal Mail for closer scrutiny under the National Security and Investment act, the BBC reported.

** Hedge fund tycoon Paul Marshall is closing in on a deal to buy the Spectator magazine from Abu Dhabi-backed RedBird IMI which is selling the title as well as the Telegraph newspapers, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

** Talen Energy TLN.O is looking to sell its stake in a cryptocurrency mining operation powered by its Pennsylvania nuclear plant in a process marketed to both data center developers and cryptominers, three sources familiar with the process said.

** The EU Commission said it had unconditionally approved the $14 billion takeover of networking gear maker Juniper Networks JNPR.N by Hewlett Packard Enterprise HPE.N .

** Cellnex CLNX.MC , Europe's largest mobile phone tower operator, said it was in advanced negotiations to sell its Austrian unit after receiving binding offers, triggering a rise in shares.

** Ayala Corp AC.PS , the Philippines' oldest conglomerate, is exploring selling a minority stake in Ayala Healthcare Holdings (AC Health) in a potential deal that could value its healthcare arm at up to $500 million, two people said.

** Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceutical 4578.T said it agreed to pay more than $1 billion to acquire Jnana Therapeutics as it looks to expand its drug pipeline and research base in the Boston area.

** The Australian competition watchdog will not oppose Louis Dreyfus' proposal to take over Namoi Cotton (NAM) , the regulator said, a month after it raised concerns over a similar buyout bid by a Singaporean entity.

** U.S. businessman Elon Musk said his artificial intelligence startup xAI is not considering an acquisition of chatbot startup Character.AI, according to a statement on social media website X.

** Australia's Pacific Smiles (PSQ) recommended that shareholders vote in favour of a sweetened bid of A$327.1 million ($214.05 million) by National Dental Care (NDC) over a competing takeover offer from U.S.-based Genesis Capital.

** Chevron Corp's CVX.N proposed purchase of oil producer Hess HES.N faces a lengthy new delay, with an arbitration panel not expected to hear a rival's claim to Hess' stake in a Guyana oil-producing joint venture until May 2025, the company said.

** Egyptian microfinance lending and payments company MNT-Halan's recent purchase of Turkey's biggest nonbank micro-leasing company will help develop its factoring business in Egypt while expanding consumer credit in Turkey, its chief executive said.

** Italian app developer Bending Spoons has bought file-sharing platform WeTransfer, the companies said in a joint statement, as the Milan-based tech company presses ahead with a string of deals for software firms.

** French retailer Casino CASP.PA no longer considers Brazil's GPA PCAR3.SA a strategic holding and is open to selling its remaining 22.5% stake in the company, an executive at Casino's financial communications department said.

** UK's John Wood Group WG.L extended the deadline by which Dubai-based engineering and consulting firm Sidara would need to make a firm offer for the company to not later than August 9.