Deals of the day-Mergers and acquisitions

(Adds Adcock Ingram, Mercator, Omnicom; Updates Novartis, Dish Network, Celesio)

Jan 9 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1430 GMT on Thursday:

** Three consortia, including Middle Eastern funds, are bidding for Royal Dutch Shell's RDSa.L Australian service stations in a A$3 billion ($2.67 billion) auction, the Australian Financial Review reported on Thursday.

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** A senior official from Thailand's top energy firm, PTT Pcl PTT.BK , denied a media report on Thursday that the company was bidding for Royal Dutch Shell's RDSa.L Australian service stations. News Search ID:nL3N0KJ197

** British engineering company Rolls-Royce RR.L made a takeover approach to Finnish ship and power plant engine maker Wartsila WRT1V.HE but the talks ended without a deal, the two companies said on Thursday. News Search ID:nL6N0KJ0N9

** Novartis AG NOVN.VX is discussing swapping its animal health and human vaccines businesses for Merck & Co Inc's

MRK.N over-the-counter products unit in a deal that could boost earnings at both companies. News Search ID:nL3N0KJ3B5

** Satellite TV provider Dish Network Corp DISH.O officially pulled its bid to buy bankrupt wireless spectrum provider LightSquared Inc on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the matter. News Search ID:nL2N0KJ172

** Singapore Airlines has chosen Airbus's AIR.PA A320 to launch its new Indian joint venture with Tata Sons Href="NewsSearch">TATA.UL .

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** Hedge fund Elliott said on Thursday it would tender at least 27.175 million shares in Celesio CLSGn.DE after McKesson

MCK.N raised its offer for the German company to 23.50 euros ($32) per share from 23 euros previously. News Search ID:nWEB00GIP

** Norway's Vardia Insurance, previously known as Scandinavian Insurance Group, has bought Saga Forsikring and aims to list the combined firm on the Oslo Bourse in April, Vardia said in a statement on Thursday. News Search ID:nL6N0KJ0PL

** Germany's Metro MEOG.DE has rejected an offer for its Vietnam cash and carry business, reported to be from CP Group, the conglomerate run by Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont.

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** Canadian Natural Resources Ltd CNQ.TO , Canada's largest oil producer, said on Thursday it had dropped plans to dispose of its Montney shale-gas property after failing to attract a suitable offer. News Search ID:nL3N0KJ342

** Belgian chemical group Solvay SOLB.BR said on Thursday its sale of a stake in Argentine subsidiary Solvay Indupa

INU.BA to Braskem BRKM5.SA was on track, even after Argentina's regulator rejected the bid as inadequate.

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** South African drugmaker Adcock Ingram AIPJ.J said on Thursday it would further postpone a shareholder vote on a $1.2 billion takeover offer from Chile's CFR Pharmaceuticals CFR.SN because it was still waiting for regulatory approval.

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** The Dnevnik newspaper on Thursday reported that Croatian food concern Agrokor wanted to change the terms of its offer to buy Slovenia's top food retailer, Mercator,

MELR.LJ . News Search ID:nL6N0KJ1PM

** EU antitrust regulators said on Thursday they had cleared the $35 billion merger of U.S. advertising agency Omnicom

OMC.N and French peer Publicis PUBP.PA without conditions.

(Compiled by Sampad Patnaik in Bangalore)

((sampad.patnaik@thomsonreuters.com)(Within U.S. +1 646 223 8780, outside U.S. +91 80 6749 6378)(Reuters Messaging: sampad.patnaik.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: DEALS DAY/