(Adds Ford, Kone, Scout24, Eletrobras, PPF, Vivendi , Banque Centrale Populaire and United Group)
Oct 17 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2000 hours GMT on Thursday:
** Balkan telecoms and media company United Group B.V. is in discussions to acquire Bulgaria's leading telecoms operator Vivacom, which went up for sale in July this year, two sources familiar with the matter said. Morocco's Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) said it had bought a 71% stake in Antananarivo-based Banque de Madagascar et de l'Ocean Indien (BMOI) from France's BPCE. Vivendi VIV.PA said that investors other than China's Tencent Holdings Ltd 0700.HK had shown interest in buying a minority stake in the French media firm's music division Universal. Investment group PPF, owned by the Czech Republic's richest man Petr Kellner, is close to concluding talks on buying a majority stake in Central European Media Enterprises (CME) from U.S. firm AT&T (NYSE:T) T.N , Czech and Bulgarian media reported. Chinese power company State Grid is considering participating in the privatization of Brazilian state-run energy firm Eletrobras SA ELET6.SA , Brazil Chief Executive Chang Zhongjiao said. German classifieds group Scout24 G24n.DE has picked three private equity firms for the second round of bidding for its autos unit AutoScout24, people close to the matter said. Finland's Kone KNEBV.HE has submitted a bid for the elevator division of German industrial group Thyssenkrupp TKAG.DE that is 1 to 2 billion euros below those by private equity suitors, business daily Handelsblatt reported. Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Co F.N said it was teaming up with Volkswagen AG VOWG_p.DE and Amazon.com AMZN.O to give its future electric car customers a range of charging options from highways to homes. Greene King GNK.L said the European Commission has given the go-ahead for CK Asset 1113.HK , a Hong Kong-listed company founded by the territory's richest man Li Ka-Shing, to acquire the British pubs operator. Insurance Australia Group IAG.AX said it will sell its 26% stake in India's SBI General Insurance SBIR.NS for about A$640 million ($432.38 million) to private equity firms as it trims overseas holdings to focus on its domestic market. U.S. luxury department-store chain Barneys New York has reached an agreement to sell its assets to brand developer Authentic Brands Group and investment bank B. Riley Financial RILY.O , a court document showed. British retailer WH Smith SMWH.L made its second major foray into U.S. airports with a $400 million purchase of Marshall Retail Group, expanding in a fast-growing segment. Unizo Holdings' 3258.T top shareholder Elliott Management pushed the Japan hotel operator to accept a $1.6 billion tender offer from Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Group BX.N , warning it would take "all available measures" if it fails to do its "fiduciary duty".