UPDATE 1-Market Chatter -- Corporate finance press digest

(Adds Aquascutum item)

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance-related stories involving U.S. and European companies were reported by media on Tuesday:

* Alan Lewis, owner and chairman of overcoat maker Crombie, has made an approach to Aquascutum's Japanese owner Renown (3606.T) to acquire the label's British business including its manufacturing operation, the Financial Times reported.

* The head of German chemicals company Bayer BAYG.DE said debt reduction and securing liquidity was taking precedence over acquisitions during the economic crisis, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday. [ID:nLG314779]

* E.ON (EONGn.DE) plans to cut up to 9,000 jobs as part of its cost-cutting programme that aims to save 1.5 billion euros ($2.1 billion) by 2011, Die Welt newspaper reported, citing information from trade union Ver.di.

* Ripplewood, the private equity group, is ready to return with a bid for General Motors GMGMQ.PK Europe should the carmaker's Canadian suitor Magna (MGa.TO) fail to complete its acquisition, the Times said, without citing its sources.

(Compiled by Quentin Webb; Editing by Dan Lalor)