Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

July 2 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0430 GMT on Thursday.

(For Reuters columns on deals, click on [DEALTALK/])

** Exelon Corp (EXC.N) said it plans to hold a conference call to discuss its hostile takeover bid for independent power producer NRG Energy Inc (NRG.N).

To read more, please double click on [nN01528847]

** Flagstone Reinsurance Limited (FSR.N) made a $1.88 billion competing offer for IPC Re (IPCR.O), a reinsurance company fending off an unsolicited bid from Validus Holdings Ltd (VR.N). [nN01530558]

** Finnish publisher Ilkka (ILK1S.HE) said it agreed to buy a 10 percent stake in larger rival Alma Media (ALN1V.HE), raising its holding to 20.4 percent. [nL1466167]

** Zurich Financial Services AG (ZURN.VX) said it closed its $1.9 billion acquisition of AIG's U.S. auto insurance business, and expects the business to bolster earnings at its Farmers division immediately. [nN01519986]

** Belgian-French financial group Dexia (DEXI.BR) (DEXI.PA) said it finalised the sale of its loss-making U.S. insurance unit Financial Security Assurance (FSA) to bond insurer Assured Guaranty (AGO.N) for $817 million. [nL1388077] (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore)