Oct 18 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1000 GMT on Thursday:
** Hungarian holding companies Konzum KONU.BU and Opus Global OPUSG.BU announced a plan to merge, creating a combined entity with a market capitalisation of about 350 billion to 400 billion forints ($1.25 billion to $1.43 billion). German copper products maker Wieland-Werke has submitted concessions in an attempt to allay European Union antitrust concerns over its plan to buy a flat rolled copper products business from Aurubis AG NAFG.DE , Europe's biggest copper smelter. Industrial gases group Praxair (NYSE:PX) PX.N and Linde LIN1.DE are set to win U.S. antitrust approval for their planned $86 billion merger, clearing the last major hurdle for the deal, German monthly Manager Magazin reported. North African-focused oil and gas company SDX Energy SDX.L said that talks to buy some of BP's BP.L Egyptian assets have been abandoned. Greece expects to get final bids for a majority stake in its biggest oil refiner Hellenic Petroleum HEPr.AT next month after a key regulatory decision on the process, a source close to the sale said. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd 4502.T said Japan's Fair Trade Commission had approved its $62 billion acquisition of Shire Plc SHP.L , bringing the Japanese firm closer to sealing a deal that will make it a global top 10 drugmaker. Freenet FNTGn.DE is not considering buying further shares in German electronics retailer Ceconomy CECG.DE , WirtschaftsWoche magazine quoted the telecoms company's chief executive as saying. French supermarket retailer Casino CASP.PA has agreed to sell a portfolio of real estate assets for 180 million euros ($207 million), as it continues an asset-sale programme to cut debts which have concerned some investors. Novartis AG NOVN.S will acquire U.S.-based cancer drugmaker Endocyte Inc ECYT.O for $2.1 billion in cash as the Swiss drugmaker expands its radiopharmaceuticals business, the companies said. Indian business conglomerate Tata Group has held preliminary discussions to buy a large stake in debt-laden Jet Airways (India) Ltd JET.NS , the Times of India reported. Private equity giant Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Group BX.N has quit a takeover battle for Australian office-block owner Investa Office Fund IOF.AX after it was gazumped by Canadian landlord Oxford Properties Group's A$3.35 billion ($2.4 billion) bid.