PRESS DIGEST-British Business - May 12

May 12 (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

- German utility group E.ON EONGn.DE is poised to become one of Britain's largest energy suppliers after it announced plans to buy rival Ovo Energy for an undisclosed sum.

- Heathrow Airport said on Monday its passenger numbers fell 5% to 6.7 million in April as the Iran war disrupted travel plans, with traffic from the Middle East plunging more than 50%.

The Guardian

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s grip on power appeared to be slipping away on Monday as cabinet ministers urged him to set out a timetable for his departure and more than 70 Labour MPs publicly called for him to stand down.

- The European Union is preparing to offer the UK a key concession in talks over an agricultural deal, giving Prime Minister Keir Starmer an important victory in his efforts to move closer to the EU.

The Telegraph

- Administrators overseeing the insolvency of Market Financial Solutions have accused the collapsed lender’s owner, Paresh Raja, of misappropriating at least 1.3 billion pounds ($1.77 billion)to fund a “lavish lifestyle” that included purchasing a “vast number” of luxury cars.

Sky News

- Britain could fully nationalise British Steel under new plans announced on Monday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said it had not been possible to sell the Chinese-owned business the government saved from closure last year.

- SoFi Technologies SOFI.O reached an agreement to acquire most of PrimaryBid’s assets in a deal that will end the UK-based company’s independent status.

($1 = 0.7359 pounds)