April 28 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories

in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories

and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

- France's Banijay explores takeover bid for ITV

- Octopus-backed Fern explores push into UK mobile

operations

- Grenfell Tower fridge maker did not run adequate safety

checks, council claims

Overview

- French media giant Banijay Group is working on

plans for a takeover offer for ITV or its studio arm to

bring together two of Europe's largest TV production groups

- A company backed by Octopus Group, the

multibillion-pound fund that owns the eponymous energy company,

is exploring opportunities to offer virtual sim-only contracts

to both businesses and consumers, in a move that could challenge

industry incumbents such as BT-owned EE and Virgin Media

O2.

- The maker of the Hotpoint fridge-freezer blamed for

igniting the fire at UK's Grenfell Tower failed to run adequate

safety tests before the devastating blaze at the London

apartment block, Kensington and Chelsea council has claimed.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)