Oct 19 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 GMT on Friday:
** A consortium of Canadian pension fund CPPIB CPPIBC.UL and Brazil's Votorantim Energia won a privatization auction to buy a controlling stake in power company Cesp CESP6.SA from the government of Sao Paulo state.
French Connection FCCN.L said it has begun discussions with four interested parties regarding a sale of the British clothing retailer.
Dell Technologies Inc DVMT.N will ask holders of "tracking stock" tied to its software company VMware Inc VMW.N to vote on its $21.7 billion cash-and-stock offer to buy it back from them on Dec. 11, according to people familiar with the matter.
The European Commission approved the acquisition of software development tool maker GitHub by software giant Microsoft MSFT.O without conditions, saying the purchase would not damage competition in the sector.
British packaging group DS Smith SMDS.L is expected to launch the sale of its plastic packaging division in November, three sources familiar with the matter said, in a deal that could be worth around $800 million.
Turnaround specialist Melrose MRON.L has fired the starting gun on a break-up of Britain's 250-year old GKN (LON:GKN) by launching a sale of the engineer's powder metallurgy business which could fetch around 1.5 billion pounds ($1.96 billion).
Germany's No.2 lender DZ Bank is finalizing the sale of parts of its troubled transport financing division DVB Bank months after struggling to sell the whole business, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Russian oil firm Lukoil LKOH.MM has no immediate plans to sell its power assets in Russia, chief executive Vagit Alekperov said during a visit to Uzbekistan. Shares in South Africa's Clover Industries CLRJ.J raced to their highest in almost two months after the dairy company said it is in talks with an unnamed firm that intends to acquire all its shares.
Car parts maker ZF Friedrichshafen said it acquired a 35 percent stake in ASAP, a Germany-based maker of software and testing systems for autonomous driving applications and electric vehicles.
Zegona Communications ZEG.L said it would increase its stake in Spain's Euskaltel by offering to buy 14.9 percent of its shares for 7.75 euros each, with the objective of increasing its presence on the group's board to drive expansion.
Private equity fund CVC has invited banks to pitch for the sale or initial public offering of Nordic optical retailer Synsam, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a deal which could value the company at more than $950 million.
Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani has been approached by many suitors but intends to remain an independent player, the company's founder and owner said in an interview in MF daily.
Shopping center owner Intu Properties INTUP.L said it was considering a 215 pence per share preliminary takeover offer from a consortium led by its deputy chairman John Whittaker, sending it shares 14 percent higher.
LSE Group LSE.L said it was acquiring further 15.1 percent shares in LCH Group Holdings Limited for up to 438 million euros ($501.99 million). Bank Vontobel VONN.S will acquire the international portfolio of U.S.-based clients from Swiss private banking peer Lombard Odier as it seeks to expand its footprint in the region, Vontobel said.