March 28 (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

- The dismissed chief executive of the London stock market's

largest gold miner Endeavour Mining ( EDVMF ) was involved in a

further $15 million of payments to a third-party offshore UAE

entity, an investigation has found.

- PwC could become the first Big Four accounting and

consulting firm in the UK to be run by a woman when its partners

vote for their next leader in a few weeks' time.

The Guardian

- Water companies in England have faced a barrage of

criticism as data revealed raw sewage was discharged for more

than 3.6 million hours into rivers and seas last year in a 105%

increase on the previous 12 months.

- An international bidding war is brewing for the UK

packaging company DS Smith ( DITHF ) after a US-based paper

producer put forward a 5.7 billion pounds ($7.19

billion)takeover proposal, gatecrashing a deal it had agreed

with the British rival Mondi ( MNODF ).

The Telegraph

- Thames Water held a crunch board meeting on Wednesday amid

a scramble to finalize a 750 million pounds($945.83 million)

lifeline from investors, with the threat of special

administration looming as the troubled supplier reels from vast

debts and poor performance.

- Telecoms giant BT has unveiled plans to transform

2,000 old payphones into advertising billboards despite fears

over cluttered streets.

Sky News

- New York-listed Keysight Technologies ( KEYS ) is preparing

to launch a formal offer for British cybersecurity specialist

Spirent Communications ( SPNUF ) worth roughly 200 pence a piece.

- Barclays ( JJCTF ) has apologized after customers

experienced difficulties with payments into and out of accounts,

as well as with its app, telephone and online banking services.

The Independent

- Troubled cosmetics company The Body Shop has admitted to

breaking employment law in sacking hundreds of people at a

moment's notice.

- Shell chief executive officer Wael Sawan was paid

nearly 8 million pounds ($10.09 million) last year, new figures

showed on Thursday as the oil and gas giant watered down one of

its climate pledges.

($1 = 0.7930 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)