PRESS DIGEST-British Business - Feb 20

Feb 20 (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

-The chief financial officer of John Wood Group WG.L Arvind Balan has resigned after it emerged that his professional qualifications had been misstated.

-American private equity firm KKR KKR.N and Chinese billionaire Li Ka-shing have lodged separate offers to buy a majority stake in Thames Water with the U.S. group offering 4 billion pounds ($5.03 billion) to take control of the troubled utility.

The Guardian

-Britain and France are leading efforts to create a European "reassurance force" intended to prevent future Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, ports and critical infrastructure in the event of a U.S.-brokered peace deal.

- The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has taken Sellafield, the world's largest store of plutonium, out of special measures for its physical security, but said concerns remained over its cybersecurity.

The Telegraph

-The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned on Wednesday that the acquisition of haulage company Wincanton by American giant GXO Logistics GXO.N would "likely reduce competition" and raise costs for grocers.

-Rachel Reeves is considering plans to cut the cash Isa tax-free limit to just 4,000 pounds a year, after a meeting with fund managers.

Sky News

- British investment firm Rosebank Industries ROSE.L is pursuing a $2 billion acquisition of U.S.-based Electrical Components International (ECI), a maker of wire harnesses, Sky News reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken with Volodymyr Zelenskiy to give the Ukrainian president his backing after U.S. President Donald Trump called him a "dictator".

($1 = 0.7947 pounds)