Oct 21 (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 engineering company Ricardo said it is

divesting its defence business as part of a five-year strategic

shift to become an "engineering consultancy in environmental and

energy transition".

- The US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice is in

exclusive talks to acquire a controlling stake in Sanofi's

consumer healthcare business, valuing the unit at

about 16 billion euros ($17.30 billion).

The Guardian

- Britain is to lend Ukraine an additional 2.26 billion

pounds ($2.94 billion) and allow Kyiv to spend the money on

weapons as part of a wider $50 billion loan programme expected

to be confirmed by G7 members later this week.

- The motor finance division of Volkswagen has

been fined 5.4 million pounds ($7.02 million) by the Financial

Conduct Authority (FCA) for unfairly treating

financially-stretched customers between 2017 and 2023.

The Telegraph

- French media giant Canal+ is seeking a valuation of up to

8 billion euro ($8.65 billion) when it lists on the London Stock

Exchange, which is expected to appear on the LSE in

mid-December.

- UK's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's sweeping

overhaul of workers' rights could cost employers almost 5

billion pounds ($6.50 billion) a year, according to an impact

assessment published by the Government on Monday.

Sky News

- Grocery technology company Ocado Group ( OCDGF ) has lined

up former Microsoft executive Adam Warby as its next chairman,

replacing Rick Haythornthwaite.

The Independent

- The Lords European Affairs Committee has written to

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle to encourage him to begin early

talks with the European Commission on renewing the data adequacy

agreement, which is due to expire in June 2025.

($1 = 0.7697 pounds)

($1 = 0.9246 euros)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)