PRESS DIGEST-Financial Times - February 18

Feb 18 (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

- Starmer vows to 'spend more' on UK defence but other areas face cuts

- Buyout firm EQT names Per Franzen as chief executive

- Anglo American to get $600 million dividend boost ahead of demerger of platinum arm

- UniCredit threatens to walk away from Banco BPM deal

Overview

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to "spend more" on defence, even as the Treasury told ministers running other departments to model for budget cuts of up to 11 percent in the coming months.

- European buyout group EQT EQTAB.ST has appointed Per Franzen as its incoming chief executive, the firm's third leader in 11 years, as it steps into its next chapter as a mature listed company.

- London-listed miner Anglo American AAL.L will get a $600 million dividend boost ahead of the spin-off of its platinum arm Anglo American Platinum AMSJ.J in the summer.

- UniCredit CRDI.MI has threatened to drop its bid for Banco BPM BAMI.MI if the smaller bank's shareholders vote next week to increase the price of an offer for asset manager Anima Holding ANIM.MI.