PRESS DIGEST-British Business - December 30

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

- Marks and Spencer MKS.L to roll out a new line of 20 “nutrient-dense” food products in the UK, targeting customers using GLP-1 weight-loss medications, adapting to shifting shopping habits.

- The chairman of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust EWI.L demands clarity from activist investor Boaz Weinstein his hedge fund Saba Capital, urging him to spell out his plans for the fund in an open letter so shareholders can make an informed decision.

The Guardian

- Sainsbury’s SBRY.L chief executive Simon Roberts, credited with reviving the UK grocer’s fortunes, has been awarded a CBE in Britain’s New Year Honours list.

- UK health regulators have warned consumers against buying popular weight-loss drugs from social media or other illegitimate sources, as demand surges and black-market sales rise.

The Telegraph

- Britain's Octopus Energy will spin off its technology arm, Kraken, as an independent company valued at $8.65 billion, after a funding round led by U.S. investment firm D1 Capital Partners.

The Independent

- British lender International Personal Finance IPF.L has agreed to a 543 million pound ($733.00 million) takeover by a company associated with BasePoint Capital, finalising terms ahead of a December 31 deadline.

- Everyman Media Group’s EMANE.L chief executive officer Alex Scrimgeour has resigned weeks after the upmarket cinema chain warned of weaker sales and profits due to sluggish box office performance.

($1 = 0.7408 pounds)