PRESS DIGEST-British Business - December 31

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

- Britain's Octopus Energy chief executive said its $9 billion technology arm Kraken, which the company will spin off, could choose a New York listing unless London ramps up efforts to attract investors.

- Ocado OCDO.L said the exclusivity of its agreements to provide retailers including U.S. grocery chain Kroger KR.N with pickup and dispatch technology has ended in most markets as previously signalled, allowing it to sign on more partners.

The Guardian

- British fashion retailer LK Bennett has filed a court application to appoint administrators, marking its second brush with insolvency in recent years.

The Telegraph

- Octopus Energy co-founder and CEO Greg Jackson has amassed a 300 million pound ($403.77 million) fortune after the British energy supplier said it will spin off its technology arm Kraken into an independent business.

- Italy's state-owned railway Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) has signed a partnership with U.S. investment firm Certares to develop high-speed train services in France and other European countries, the two groups said.

Sky News

- Train services through the Channel Tunnel linking Britain and continental Europe were suspended for much of Tuesday after a power supply failure, bringing chaos to peak winter holiday travel.

The Independent

- British footwear brand Dr Martens DOCS.L is weighing plans to expand its ReWair resale platform beyond the United States, aiming to tap into growing demand in the second-hand market.

($1 = 0.7430 pounds)