Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

July 2 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Wednesday:

*State-backed Italian bank Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena BMPS.MI said its bid for rival Mediobanca MDBI.MI would start on July 14 after the country's markets watchdog approved the offer document for investors. nL1N3SZ0S7

*The CEO of UniCredit CRDI.MI renewed his push to merge the Italian bank with its German rival Commerzbank CBKG.DE, attempting to make his case in a letter to Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz.nL8N3SZ13B

*All-American clothing retailer Lands’ End LE.O, which signaled interest in a sale in March, has attracted bids from Reebok owner Authentic Brands Group and Toys"R"Us owner WHP Global, according to two people familiar with the matter. nL6N3SZ0M7

Allstate has completed the sale of its group health business for $1.25 billion in cash, adjusted for the closing balance sheet. nL6N3SZ0HY

Ryan Specialty has completed the acquisition of JM Wilson, a Michigan-based MGA and surplus lines broker.nL6N3SZ0HR

The Baldwin Group's indirect subsidiary, Westwood Insurance Agency, has completed the $100 million acquisition of a homebuilder distribution network from Hippo Holdings.nL6N3SZ0HO

Luxembourg's largest brewery Brasserie Nationale lost its challenge against EU antitrust scrutiny of its proposed buy of wholesale drinks distributor Boissons Heintz as Europe's second-highest court sided with EU regulators.nL8N3SY1DD

British scientific instruments maker Spectris has agreed to a takeover offer from U.S. investment firm KKR valuing it at 4.7 billion pounds ($6.46 billion) including debt, and has withdrawn its support for a rival offer from Advent.nL4N3SZ0CR

London-listed Aviva disclosed in a London Stock Exchange filing that it has completed its 3.7 billion pound ($5.09 billion) takeover of rival Direct Line Group. nL6N3SZ0A8

Private equity group KKR will acquire ProTen, one of Australia's largest broiler chicken growers, from pension fund Aware Super, the parties said in a joint statement without disclosing financial details. nL4N3SZ058

Euronext is in talks to buy up to 100% of the Athens Stock Exchange in a 399 million euro ($470 million) all-share deal that would be the latest for a group that already operates stock markets in countries including France and the Netherlands.nL1N3SY0NB

A merger between French business software provider LumApps and its Swiss peer Beekeeper will create a new unicorn worth about $1.1 billion, the two companies said. The deal announced on Wednesday is backed by British private equity group Bridgepoint BPTB.L nL8N3SY1HB

The new German government has no plans currently to take a stake in Thyssenkrupp's TKAG.DE defence division TKMS, the business daily Handelsblatt reported on Wednesday, citing government sources. nL1N3SZ04C