March 27 (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

- International Paper's ( IP ) takeover move raises possibility of

bidding war for DS Smith ( DITHF )

- NatWest ( NWG ) slashes executive team as it prepares for mass

share sale

- Tim Davie calls for BBC licence fee reform

- UK regulator warns 'finfluencers' to adhere to advertising

rules

Overview

- International Paper ( IP ) has made a takeover proposal

for British paper and packaging group DS Smith ( DITHF ), opening

up the possibility of a bidding war for the company, which had

already reached a deal with competitor Mondi ( MNODF ).

- NatWest Group's ( NWG ) new chief executive Paul Thwaite

has slashed his executive committee to remove "unnecessary

complexity" as the bank embarks on an era without the British

government as a controlling shareholder and prepares for a sale

of stock to retail investors.

- BBC Director-General Tim Davie has called for reform of

the licence fee as part of a broader strategy to turn Britain's

national broadcaster into a more commercial operation.

- Britain's financial watchdog set out guidelines on Tuesday

to stop misleading adverts on social media, and warned

"influencers" that promoting a financial product without

regulatory approval could be a criminal offence.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)