Oct 10 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers,

acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1015 GMT on

Thursday:

** A deal between Brazilian airline Azul ( AZUL ) and its

lessors to swap more than $500 million in obligations for an

equity stake is good news for planemaker Embraer ( ERJ ),

analysts say, as it reduces concerns about the debt load of a

key customer.

** GXO Logistics ( GXO ), a contract logistics provider with

a market value of roughly $6 billion, is exploring options,

including a potential sale, after receiving takeover interest,

according to a person familiar with the matter.

** Shares of Shanghai-based Guotai Junan Securities

and Haitong Securities soared on

Thursday after Guotai Junan revealed details of its plan to

acquire its rival and create China's largest brokerage firm.

** British consumer goods firm Unilever ( UL ) said on

Thursday it has completed the sale of its Russian business to

Arnest Group, a local manufacturer of perfume, cosmetics, and

household products, for an undisclosed amount.

** Malaysia's third biggest lender by assets, Public Bank

, said on Thursday that it will acquire a 44.15% stake

in general insurer LPI Capital for 1.72 billion

ringgit ($400.5 million) in cash.

** Canada's Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) will buy

European logistics real estate firm Tritax EuroBox ( TTAXF ), the

companies said on Thursday, the latest sign of booming investor

interest in warehouses and distribution centres.

** Ivory Coast could sell a further stake in its Transcao

cocoa processor to Malaysian cocoa group Guan Chong Berhad

, the industry's regulator told Reuters, as it pushes

for more expertise and investment to grow the sector.

(Compiled by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru)