July 3 (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

- Apollo-backed Athora nearing takeover of UK's Pension

Insurance Corporation

- Armour maker Kevlar targeted in $2 billion private equity

race for DuPont ( DD ) assets

- Bumble chief criticises staff for 'freaking out' over

London job cuts

- National Grid bosses claim they were not told of fire risk

defect at Heathrow site

Overview

- Athora, a European-based insurer minority owned by

Apollo , is close to acquiring full ownership of UK

retirement savings group Pension Insurance Corporation from a

consortium of investors, including CVC Capital and Reinet

Investments, a vehicle backed by South African billionaire

Johann Rupert.

- Private equity groups Advent International and Platinum Equity

are vying to buy $2 billion worth of assets, including the

Kevlar bulletproof brand, from DuPont ( DD ), as the chemicals

giant undergoes a wider break-up.

- Bumble chief executive Whitney Wolfe Herd has criticised staff

for "freaking out" after announcing the company would eliminate

more than 160 roles in London, warning drastic cost-cutting

measures were needed as "dating apps are feeling like a thing of

the past".

- National Grid has insisted its management teams were "not made

aware" of problems at a London electricity substation years

before a fire in March that led to the closure of Heathrow

airport for 24 hours.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)