(Adds Apollo Global Management, Coty, Thomas Cook, Deutsche Bank , Selonda, DIA )
Feb 15 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2200 GMT on Friday:
** Buyout firm Apollo Global Management LLC APO.N has agreed to acquire a majority stake in 14 television stations from privately held Cox Media Group, the company said, a move that sets up Apollo to become a player in broadcasting, an industry it has sought deals in for some time. Coty Inc COTY.N said it has formed a special committee to evaluate shareholder JAB Holding Co's offer to raise its stake in the cosmetics maker to 60 percent. Thomas Cook TCG.L has enlisted Credit Suisse CSGN.S , Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) MS.N and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (NYSE:BAC) BAC.N to explore the possible sale of its airline business, a source familiar with the discussions said. Germany's two leading SME business associations publicly opposed a merger of Deutsche Bank DBKGn.DE and Commerzbank CBKG.DE , arguing a combination could curb competition. EU antitrust regulators approved the joint acquisition by Mubadala MUDEV.UL and Amerra funds of three Greek fish farming firms, including Selonda SELr.AT and Nireus NIRr.AT . LetterOne (L1) has not asked DIA's DIDA.MC creditors to accept losses on the Spanish retailer's debt as part of the fund's takeover bid, an L1 spokesman and a person present at a meeting for analysts said. Italy's state lender CDP has decided to raise its stake in Telecom Italia TLIT.MI , a move that could pave the way for a possible merger of the phone group's fixed line network with that of smaller rival Open Fiber. Malaysia's Axiata Group AXIA.KL , the largest shareholder in Singapore mobile operator M1 Ltd MONE.SI , has accepted a bid from Singapore investors that valued M1 at S$1.9 billion ($1.4 billion). Hellman & Friedman and Blackstone (NYSE:BX) have won over Scout24 after raising their offer for the online classifieds group to 5.7 billion euros ($6.4 billion) including debt, setting up the biggest takeover of a listed German company by private equity. Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSa) RDa.L has agreed to buy German residential solar battery maker sonnen, as the oil and gas major expands its electricity business in its bid for a bigger role in the global transition to low-carbon energy. Mr Kipling cakes maker Premier Foods Plc PFD.L said it has decided against selling Ambrosia rice pudding and custards brand to cut debt of over 500 million pounds ($645 million), citing a tough business climate that could have dented the deal value. The board of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) has given its approval for the Italian state lender to increase its stake in Telecom Italia TLIT.MI to 10 percent in the next 12 months, a source familiar with the matter said. Collapsed U.K. cafe operator Patisserie Holdings CAKEP.L said that it had sold its Baker & Spice business to rival chain Department of Coffee & Social Affairs for 2.5 million pounds ($3.20 million), a day after the company sealed deals for its other two main businesses. French supermarket retailer Casino CASP.PA , which has been divesting assets to cut debts, said it had agreed to sell some stores to rivals Lidl and Leclerc for a total of 42 million euros ($47.4 million). A unit of Norwegian investment firm Kistefos launched an all-cash bid for broadband service provider NextGenTel Holding NGT.OL , valuing the takeover target at 326 million Norwegian crowns ($37.64 million), the companies said. Danish logistics group DSV A/S DSV.CO sweetened its offer for Panalpina PWTN.S to $4.3 billion, with a tug of war escalating over the Swiss company as it weighs a separate deal with Kuwait's Agility Group AGLT.KW . Japan Exchange Group Inc (JPX) 8697.T , owner of Tokyo Stock Exchange, and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange Inc have decided to merge, two sources with direct knowledge of the talks said on Thursday, as Japan pushes to create an all-in-one bourse. Activist investor Carl Icahn plans to push management of casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp CZR.O to sell the company after it received at least two offers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people it said were familiar with the matter.