PRESS DIGEST- Financial Times - February 23

Feb 23 (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

- Ministers pledge 3.8 billion pounds of extra cash for special needs education in English schools

- Private equity owners slash valuation of Swiss watchmaker Breitling

- Ageing populations will raise demand for lifts, says German manufacturer

Overview

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is promising to spend nearly 4 billion pounds ($5.41 billion) more on special needs education in mainstream English schools as he attempts to avoid a revolt over contentious reforms.

- Breitling's private equity owners have slashed the valuation of the Swiss watchmaker to as little as half its 2023 level, as performance has faltered under CVC CVC.AS and Partners Group's PGHN.S joint ownership.

- People around the world growing too old and frail to take the stairs will lift demand for elevators, TK Elevator, one of the sector's biggest manufacturers, has predicted.

($1 = 0.7398 pounds)