PRESS DIGEST-British Business - May 5

May 5 (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

- Vitruvian Partners, a private equity firm, has acquired Great Rail Journeys, a leading provider of luxury rail tours through Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, in a buyout deal valued at over 200 million pounds ($265.86 million).

- The European Union has rejected UK requests for access to key crime and illegal migration databases, including migrant fingerprints, as part of a Brexit reset.

The Guardian

- BMW BMWG.DE, owner of Mini, terminated 180 agency staff contracts at its Oxford factory as the UK car industry faces global economic uncertainty and 25% U.S. tariffs.

- British police arrested five suspects, including four Iranian nationals, for allegedly planning a terror attack targeting specific premises in England, while separately detaining three Iranians in London for suspected Iran-backed threat activity.

The Telegraph

- Shell SHEL.L is actively exploring a potential takeover of BP BP.L, whose faltering shift to net zero has weakened its position, with the former consulting advisers to assess the feasibility and benefits of a deal.

- UK's Labour will escalate attacks on Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK party, over his perceived pro-Russia stance to win back Reform voters after local elections.

Sky News

- Modella Capital, the new owner of WH Smith's SMWH.L high street chain, is barred from initiating mass store closures for at least 12 months under a transitional services agreement, which WH Smith could terminate if Modella launches a company voluntary arrangement before the deal's first anniversary.

($1 = 0.7523 pounds)