Nov 29 (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

- Insurance company Aviva has contacted investors in bid

target Direct Line, a move that could pave the way for

a hostile takeover of the smaller rival.

- Macquarie has proposed buying waste management company

Renewi ( SHMCF ) for 700.9 million pounds($890.14 million), the

companies said on Thursday, more than a year after the asset

manager's first attempt to take over the British firm.

The Guardian

- U.S.-based investment group Fortress Investment Group will buy

British cafe-bar and restaurant chain Loungers at an

enterprise value of about 350.5 million pounds, the two firms

said on Thursday.

- Britain's markets watchdog on Thursday re-cast proposals to

publicly name companies under investigation, in its latest

effort to defuse a fierce backlash against plans that have been

labelled misjudged and harmful to London's competitiveness.

The Telegraph

- The bid for Britain's Telegraph newspaper has been extended

until the end of the year as preferred bidder Dovid Efune faces

funding delays.

Sky News

- Marks and Spencer ( MAKSF ) and Kingfisher are among the

retailers which are circling the remaining Homebase estate of

close to 50 outlets, ahead of a deadline for offers on Friday.

- Leading investors in Wefox, the troubled European insurance

company, are engineering a 150 million euro($158.48

million)refinancing to avert the need to sell one of its most

valuable remaining assets.

The Independent

- British lawmakers will debate proposals to allow mentally

competent, terminally ill adults in England and Wales, with six

months or less left to live, the right to choose to end their

lives with medical help.

($1 = 0.7874 pounds)

($1 = 0.9465 euros)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)