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(Adds TransCanada Corp , Deutsche Bank , Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Visa Inc (NYSE:V), Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd, SNC-Lavalin, updates Lenta)
April 5 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Friday:
** Pipeline operator TransCanada Corp TRP.TO is exploring a potential sale of its Columbia Midstream unit in a deal that could value the business at about $1 billion, three sources aware of the matter said. Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA PETR4.SA has agreed to sell its TAG natural gas pipeline unit to a consortium led by France's Engie SA ENGIE.PA for roughly $9 billion, Bloomberg News reported, citing a source. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said it was investigating Visa Inc's planned acquisition of payment company Earthport Plc EPO.L to gauge if the deal would reduce competition in the country. The head of Fondazione Cariplo, an influential shareholder of Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo ISP.MI , said he would support any potential cross-border merger plan that could be put forward by the bank's chief executive. Australia's Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China's ENN Group for 10 years from 2025, both companies said. Aussie car dealer AP Eagers Ltd APE.AX made an all-stock offer to buy smaller rival Automotive Holdings Group Ltd AHG.AX that valued the latter at A$635.3 million ($451.83 million), sending Automotive's shares nearly 17 percent higher. Japan's Tokyo Gas Co Ltd 9531.T said it has signed a heads of agreement (HOA) with Shell (LON:RDSa) Eastern Trading for 500,000 tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 10 years from April 2020. German energy group Uniper UN01.DE said it was selling its remaining stake in peer Eneva ENEV3.SA , ending an unsuccessful foray into the Brazilian market that was made by its former parent E.ON EONGn.DE . Swiss investors EOS Holding and Primeo Energie are jointly buying French group EDF's EDF.PA 25 percent stake in utility Alpiq Holding ALPH.S for 489 million Swiss francs ($489 million), or 70 francs per share, the companies said. Russian grocery chain Magnit MGNT.MM has made a $1.78 billion non-binding and indicative proposal to smaller competitor Lenta LNTAq.L, topping a rival offer from Russian steel magnate Alexey Mordashov, Lenta said. The European Central Bank will ask Deutsche Bank DBKGn.DE to raise fresh funds before it gives the go-ahead for a merger with a state-backed rival, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. Deutsche Bank DBKGn.DE said it was open to further restructuring of its U.S. investment bank after Commerzbank CBKG.DE executives sought clarity on its plans during merger talks, according to three sources familiar with the matter. SNC-Lavalin SNC.TO said it would sell a 10 percent stake in a company that operates a toll highway in the Greater Toronto Area to the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (Omers) for up to C$3.25 billion ($2.43 billion). Indian private-sector lender Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd LVLS.NS will merge operations with housing finance firm Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd INBF.NS in a share-swap deal, the companies said in a filing.