UPDATE 1-Market Chatter - Corporate finance press digest

(Adds top three items)

LONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance related stories involving U.S. and European companies were reported by newspapers on Friday:

** Spanish building group Sacyr Vallehermoso (SVO.MC: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has excluded making a cash bid for French public works and transport concession group Eiffage (FOUG.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), chairman Luis del Rivero told France's BFM radio.

** The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is considering a proposal to seek a majority stake in DaimlerChrysler's DCXGn.DE Chrysler Group in return for cost concessions, the Wall Street Journal reported.

** James Eden is leaving his job as U.S. banks analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort to join the banks team at Societe Generale (SOGN.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the Financial Times said.

** Persimmon (PSN.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Britain's largest housebuilder, and private equity firms are preparing to hijack the proposed 5.5 billion pound merger of George Wimpey WMPY.L and Taylor Woodrow TWOD.L, the Times said.

** Towergate, a lesser known private insurance firm, has appointed HBOS (HBOS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to lead fundraising for a 250 million pound war chest with which the acquisitive firm will pursue consolidation of the British market for independent financial advisers, the Times said.