PRESS DIGEST-Financial Times - April 29

April 29 (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

• Lift maker Kone close to finalising 29 billion euro deal to buy TK Elevator

• Pernod Ricard ends pursuit of Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman

• Bill Ackman hits lowest end of target in second IPO push

• Germany to accelerate defence spending well ahead of NATO deadline

• RAC pumps the brakes on 5 billion pound London IPO

• CVC weighs 9 billion euro bid for Italian payments group Nexi

• UAE to leave OPEC in blow to oil cartel

Overview

• Lift maker Kone KNEBV.HE is nearing a cash-and-stock deal to buy German rival TK Elevator, valuing the company at about 29 billion euros ($33.97 billion), including debt.

• Pernod Ricard PERP.PA and Brown-Forman BFb.N have ended merger talks after the French spirits company and the Kentucky-based owner of Jack Daniel's whiskey failed to reach mutually acceptable terms.

• Bill Ackman's Pershing Square has raised $5 billion for its new closed-end ‌fund that is part of a combined U.S. initial public offering of the alternative asset management company.

• The German government is working on a draft budget, and total defence spending is planned to reach 144.9 billion euros ($169.74 billion) in 2027, as it seeks to meet Nato’s new target at least six years ahead of schedule.

• British driving services group RAC has pushed back its timeline for an initial public offering in London to the final months of this year.

• Private equity firm CVC Capital CVC.AS is weighing a 9 billion euro deal for Italian payments group Nexi NEXII.MI.

• The United Arab Emirates said it was quitting oil producers' group OPEC after almost 60 years.

($1 = 0.8537 euros)