Apollo Global Management has offered to acquire the Canadian iron ore business of Rio Tinto Group PLC (LSE: RIO), according to Bloomberg. A deal could be worth $2 billion and $3.5 billion from the sale. www.riotinto.com

AXA Private Equity has agreed to acquire Trescal, a France-based provider of calibration and measurement services, from 3i Group and TCR Capital for approximately €250 million.www.trescal.com

BC Partners has agreed in principle to buy German academic publisher Springer Science+Business Media from EQT Partners and GIC Special Investments for around €3.1 billion, according to Dow Jones. www.springer.com

Denham Capital has committed $100 million to the formation of Endeavor Energy, which will invest in thermal and hydroelectric power projects in Africa. www.endeavor-energy.com

Investcorp has acquired a 38% stake in Al Yusr Industrial Contracting Co., a Saudi Arabia-based gas and oil services company. No financial terms were disclosed. www.investcorp.com

Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE: JCI) is seeking a private equity buyer for its automotive electronics unit, according to Reuters. The deal could be valued at approximately $1 billion.www.johnsoncontrols.com

Paragon Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in KADI AG, a Swiss producer of frozen food, from ECM Equity Capital Management. No financial terms were disclosed for the deal, following which KADI management will retain a minority equity position. www.kadi.ch