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) has excluded making a cash bid for French public works and transport concession group Eiffage (FOUG.PA), 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), the Financial Times said.

** Persimmon (PSN.L), 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 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.

** Competition lawyers claim the Competition Commission's investigation into Tesco's (TSCO.L) purchase of a Co-op store and its subsequent demolition could force the supermarket giant to sell one of its most profitable stores -- Tesco Extra in Slough -- to a rival, the Daily Telegraph said.

** Standard Life (SL.L) still has 220,000 members that have failed to claim shares worth 261 million pounds following the firm's floatation last year, the Guardian said.