Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds Sports Direct, Comcast, Carlyle, New Gold, Natixis , Updates Stanley Black & Decker)

Sept 12 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Wednesday:

** Britain's Sports Direct officially ruled out a takeover bid for Debenhams after an outgoing director of the sportswear firm said the board had discussed combining the department store group with House of Fraser.

** Comcast Corp's bid of 14.75 pounds for each Sky share will now remain open for acceptance until early October, the U.S. cable giant said, adding that it has received valid acceptances for shares representing 0.29 percent of Sky Plc to date.

** Private equity firms Carlyle Group and Investindustrial are teaming up to create a high-end interior design group which is already looking for acquisitions to boost growth.

** Canadian miner New Gold Inc is exploring a sale as it grapples with ballooning development costs and operating challenges at its new mine, people familiar with the situation told Reuters.

** Global commodities trader Mercuria Energy Group is expanding its iron ore business with a majority stake in U.S. Mesabi Metallics Co, deepening its investment in the United States at a time of a resurgent steel industry.

** Italy's biggest private broadcaster Mediaset is working on a large merger or acquisition in Europe's TV sector, its chief executive said.

** French bank Natixis said it planned to sell several specialised finance businesses to its parent, unlisted French cooperative lender BPCE, and use part of the 2.7 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in proceeds for acquisitions.

** Chinese conglomerate Fosun International Ltd is in discussions to buy British-based commodities broker Marex Spectron, two industry sources said.

** Stanley Black & Decker Inc said it would buy a minor stake in lawnmower maker MTD Products Inc for $234 million, expanding deeper into the outdoor garden equipment market and adding to its diverse line of products.

** Private equity firms Investindustrial and Carlyle Group teamed up to create an interior design group to expand their brands, which is expected to generate 500 million euros ($580 million) in sales revenue.

** U.S. biotech firm Vital Therapies Inc said it will explore strategic options after its liver disease treatment failed to meet the main goal of a late-stage study, driving its shares down by more than 70 percent.

** Nielsen Holdings Plc will explore strategic alternatives including a sale, the TV ratings company told Reuters in a statement, after coming under pressure to do so from hedge fund Elliott Management Corp.

** Activist investor Marathon Partners Equity Management is planning to push discount cosmetics maker e.l.f. Beauty Inc to start a process to sell itself or refocus on its core operations and cut costs, the Wall Street Journal reported.

** Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP is in talks to acquire Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc, the largest U.S. insurance claims service provider, for more than $6 billion, including debt, people familiar with the matter said.

** The Federal Communications Commission, which is reviewing the planned merger of T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp , said it has paused its review clock to give the agency time to analyze new and anticipated submissions from the companies. (Compiled by Bharath Manjesh and Shanti S Nair in Bengaluru)