April 19 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories

on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not

verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- British music investor Hipgnosis Songs Fund ( HPGSF ) has

agreed to a 1.1 billion pound ($1.37 billion) takeover from an

American rival Concord Chorus.

- Alliance Trust ( ALITF ), one of Britain's biggest

investment trust, has sacked Jupiter Fund Management ( JFHHF ),

but has chosen not to award its 300 million pound mandate to the

star fund manager whose defection triggered the rethink.

The Guardian

- Thames Water could be renationalised, with the bulk of its

15.6 billion pound debt added to the public purse, under radical

plans being considered by the UK government.

- Two sons of the world's richest man, Bernard Arnault, have

joined the board of LVMH after a shareholder vote,

further cementing the family's control of the French luxury

goods company.

The Telegraph

- The head of the BBC World Service Liliane Landor will step

down in July after three years in the role, said she was "deeply

concerned about the operational capability of the World Service

if additional cuts continue to weaken it further".

- Telegraph bidder and US billionaire Ken Griffin is

dramatically expanding the size of his hedge fund's London

headquarters.

Sky News

- Hundreds of UK partners at EY, the big four accountancy

firm, have been warned of a potential slide in profits this year

amid a wider slowdown in the professional services sector

- The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will

launch the appointment process for the role at the Independent

Football Regulator (IFR).

The Independent

- Ministers will be recommended to use live AI facial

recognition to screen migrants arriving in the UK for threats,

the Government's anti-terror law adviser Jonathan Hall KC said.

($1 = 0.8048 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)