PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Dec 21

Dec 21 - 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
Shire Plc SHP.L could sweeten a bid for Baxalta Inc
BXLT.N , an American rival specialising in blood diseases, by
offering 8 billion pounds ($11.92 billion) in cash as part of
what was a 19 billion pounds ($28.32 billion) all-share bid. (http://thetim.es/1kbekDJ)

Ken Morrison, former chairman of Morrisons MRW.L , has
built a 6 million pounds ($8.94 million) stake in J Sainsbury (OTC:JSAIY)
Plc SBRY.L - and given Mike Coupe, its chief executive, his
public backing. (http://thetim.es/1kbez1q)

The Guardian
British employers expect to keep hiring permanent staff in
2016 but are cautious about offering meaningful pay rises,
according to a survey from employers' group Confederation of
British Industry (CBI).

The UK government's proposed immigration bill, due to have
its first reading in the House of Lords this week, will hand
"unbelievable control to traffickers" and make it harder for
people to escape slavery in the country, campaigners have
warned.

The Telegraph
A team made up of five suitors, including Wren House
Infrastructure, an arm of the Kuwait Investment Authority, is
believed to be on a shortlist of bidders that will be invited to
make second-round offers for London City Airport in February.
The group also includes Canadian funds Ontario Teachers' Pension
Plan (OTPP), Borealis Infrastructure, AIMCo and Hermes, the
British investment manager.

Capital Group, one of the biggest investors in BG Group Plc
BG.L , has sold almost 100 million pounds ($149.03 million) of
shares in the oil and gas business in the past week, raising
questions about its view of the company's 55 billion pounds
($81.97 billion) takeover by Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L .

Sky News
Drivers who use mobile phones behind the wheel will be hit
with increased fines and points under new government proposals.
Offenders would see a rise from three to four penalty points on
their licence and a rise in fines from 100 pounds ($149.03) to
150 pounds ($223.55).

The Independent
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has claimed that
his Cumbrian constituents cannot afford flood insurance even
though a deal between the industry and the UK government was
supposed to make cover affordable since 2001. (http://ind.pn/1kbgxyU)

The government failed thousands of steel workers by not
being alert to alarms raised by the industry, according to a
group of MPs. Other European countries were far better prepared
and took action to safeguard their steel industries, but there
was "little action" from the UK government, said a report
published by the Commons Business Select Committee. (http://ind.pn/1kbgSSf)


($1 = 0.6710 pounds)