News: RIO Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds Darktrace, Home Capital Group; updates Unity, Turquoise Hill)

Aug 15 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1930 GMT on Monday:

** British cybersecurity firm Darktrace Plc DARK.L said it was in the early stages of discussions with tech investment firm Thoma Bravo regarding a possible cash offer.

** Gaming software maker Unity Software Inc U.N rejected AppLovin Corp's APP.O $17.54 billion takeover offer and said it would go ahead with its planned purchase of ironSource IS.N .

** Canada's Home Capital Group Inc HCG.TO said that its board had rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from an unnamed buyer as it undervalued the mortgage lender.

** Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd TRQ.TO rejected an offer by majority shareholder Rio Tinto Ltd (RIO) , RIO.L to buy the 49% stake it doesn't already own for $2.7 billion, as it did not reflect the Canadian company's full and fair value.

** Major Capricorn Energy investor Madison Avenue sees Capricorn's CNE.L value at a minimum of 300 pence per share, above its value in a planned merger with Tullow Oil TLW.L , adding its voice to criticism of the deal by some Capricorn investors.

** The board of Dubai's Emaar Properties EMAR.DU , which owns the Dubai Mall, will meet on Thursday to discuss the sale of its e-commerce fashion business, the company said.

** Businessman Josef Liokumovich bought a 60% stake in the Russian assets of German hardware store chain OBI for a nominal $10 sum after the Russian side settled debts, the entrepreneur told Forbes Russia in an interview published.

** Nexstar Media Group NXST.O , the largest local TV station owner in the United States, said it will acquire a majority stake in The CW Network, home to popular shows such as "Riverdale", which based on the popular Archie comics, and superhero show "The Flash".

** German utility EnBW EBKG.DE has sold a 49.9% stake in a 597 megawatt (MW) solar power portfolio to local insurance firm ALH Group, reflecting rising deal activity across the renewables sector in light of higher valuations.

** South African thermal coal producer Seriti Resources said it had agreed to acquire a majority stake in Windlab Africa's wind and solar energy assets in a $55 million deal that marks its first step towards renewable energy.

** Australia's Nearmap Ltd (NEA) disclosed a $754.6 million non-binding takeover proposal from Thoma Bravo and said it had granted due diligence to the private equity firm, sending shares of the aerial imagery company higher by more than 30%.

** SoftBank Group Corp's 9984.T decision to sell down its Alibaba Group Holding 9988.HK , BABA.N stake for a $34 billion gain may be aimed at bolstering its finances, but it also underlines how CEO Masayoshi Son has cooled on China tech.