June 13 (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

- US investment firm Gordon Brothers has acquired struggling

UK retailer Poundland for 1 pound from Pepco, taking

on its 818 stores and 16,000 staff, with a major restructuring

plan expected to close around 100 shops and reshape the business

amid fierce retail competition.

- Activist investor Palliser Capital has acquired a 5% stake

in WH Smith ( WHTPF ), aiming to boost its underperforming share

price by supporting its transition into a focused travel retail

business following the sale of its high street arm, and

signaling potential pressure for governance and incentive

reforms.

The Guardian

- Chinese automaker BYD has launched its

cheapest UK model, the Dolphin Surf, starting at 18,650 pounds,

as part of its push to surpass Tesla in global EV

sales, offering advanced features and competitive pricing to

attract budget-conscious buyers amid growing demand for

affordable electric vehicles.

- VodafoneThree, the newly merged UK telecoms giant with 27

million customers, has pledged an 11 billion pound investment

over the next decade to expand 5G coverage to over 99% of the UK

by 2034, while streamlining retail operations and creating

thousands of new infrastructure jobs annually.

The Telegraph

- French energy giant EDF is set to rescue struggling UK EV

charging firm Pod Point ( ENELF ) in a 10.6 million pound deal,

after a sharp drop in demand for electric vehicles and a 94%

share price collapse, highlighting growing concerns over EV

adoption and market viability in Britain.

- A new 25 million pound BAE Systems factory in Sheffield

has officially opened as the UK's hub for artillery production,

focusing on M777 howitzers to support Ukraine and boost domestic

defence capabilities, amid rising military spending and a

broader push to strengthen Britain's defence industrial base.

Sky News

- Billionaire Sir Len Blavatnik is being approached by

RedBird Capital Partners to take a minority stake in The Daily

Telegraph, as the US firm seeks UK-based investors to support

its 500 million pound acquisition amid political scrutiny and

new media ownership rules limiting foreign state influence.

- The US has launched a formal review of the AUKUS submarine

pact with the UK and Australia to ensure it aligns with

President Trump's "America First" agenda, raising questions

about the future of the 175 billion pound defence deal, though

allies remain confident in its long-term continuation.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)