Deals of the day -- mergers and acquisitions

Nov 27 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0500 GMT on Thursday.

(For Reuters columns on deals, click on [DEALTALK/]

** Saks Inc (SKS.N) took stepson to avoid a takeover after billionaire investor Carlos Slim Helu reported a stake in the company of 17.8 percent, making him the luxury retailer's biggest investor. To read more, please double click on [nN26366796]

** Troubled Mexican retailer Comercial Mexicana, or Comerci, said it sold its 50 percent stake in credit business Prestacomer to partner Paribas Personal Finance in a $9 million deal. [nN26370144]

** Dow Chemical (DOW.N) and Kuwait Petroleum Corp, its partner in a proposed $19 billion joint venture, said the venture will close as scheduled by the end of 2008. [nN26365733] (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore)