July 23 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals involving European, U.S. and Asian companies were reported by 0530 GMT on Wednesday.

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

** Australian billionaire investor Solomon Lew raised his bid for clothing retailer Just Group Ltd JST.AX to A$803 million ($780 million), offering more cash if he achieves 90 percent control, despite Just having cut its 2008 earnings forecast. To read more, please double click on [nSYD220990]

** Thai PTT Chemical PTTC.BK (PTTCH) said it had agreed to buy a 50 percent stake in a Malaysian oleochemicals firm from German chemicals maker Cognis [COGN.UL] for 104 million euros ($164 million). [nBKK46572]

** Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (CBA.AX: Quote, Profile, Research), the nation's second-biggest lender by assets, said it was in talks to buy ABN AMRO's Australia and New Zealand operations, as it looks to strengthen its institutional banking and markets business. [nSYD199900]

** Australian grains handler GrainCorp Ltd (GNC.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) said it will not increase its offer for feeds producer Ridley Ltd (RIC.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) (RCL.TO: Quote, Profile, Research). [nSYU004786]

** Brazil's Oi Participacoes (TNLP4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) (TNE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) bought 947 million reais ($599 million) worth of preferential shares in Brasil Telecom as part of its takeover of the No. 3 telecommunications player, the BM&F Bovespa stock exchange said. [nN22315603]

** Japan's Nippon Life Insurance said that it would take a 5 percent stake in U.S. fund and index group Russell Investments. [nT326500] (Compiled by Tina Kwan in Singapore)