Feb 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in

the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and

does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

- Starmer vows to 'spend more' on UK defence but other areas

face cuts

- Buyout firm EQT names Per Franzen as chief executive

- Anglo American to get $600 million dividend boost ahead of

demerger of platinum arm

- UniCredit threatens to walk away from Banco BPM deal

Overview

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to "spend

more" on defence, even as the Treasury told ministers running

other departments to model for budget cuts of up to 11 percent

in the coming months.

- European buyout group EQT has appointed Per

Franzen as its incoming chief executive, the firm's third leader

in 11 years, as it steps into its next chapter as a mature

listed company.

- London-listed miner Anglo American will get a $600

million dividend boost ahead of the spin-off of its platinum arm

Anglo American Platinum in the summer.

- UniCredit has threatened to drop its bid for

Banco BPM if the smaller bank's shareholders vote next

week to increase the price of an offer for asset manager Anima

Holding.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)