Nov 18 (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

- HICL Infrastructure ( HICLF ) and The Renewables

Infrastructure Group Ltd ( RWFRF ) will merge to form the UK's

largest listed infrastructure investment company worth about

3.98 billion pounds ($5.23 billion), the companies said.

- London-headquartered law firm Ashurst and U.S.-based

Perkins Coie announced they have agreed a merger which would

create a combined firm of 3,000 lawyers with $2.7 billion in

revenue, putting it in the top 20 worldwide.

The Guardian

- TotalEnergies said it would more than double

its net gas generation capacity by acquiring 50% of Czech energy

company EPH's Western European flexible power generation

portfolio in a 5.1 billion euro ($5.91 billion) all-stock deal.

The Telegraph

- AXA Investment Managers halved its exposure to UK bonds

in some portfolios on Friday following news that the government

has no plans to raise income tax.

Sky News

- Heathrow Airport will this month name former BT Group CEO

Philip Jansen as its next chairman as the British aviation hub

presses ahead with plans for a 50 billion pounds ($65.76

billion) expansion.

($1 = 0.7603 pounds)

($1 = 0.8628 euros)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)