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

– The London-listed music rights investment group Hipgnosis Songs Fund SONC is prepared to recommend a $1.5 billion takeover approach from Blackstone BX if the U.S. investment group makes a firm bid.

– Banks face further political pressure over account closures after data disclosed to MPs by the Financial Ombudsman Service showed that complaints about “debanking” had jumped.

The Guardian

– A development company that sells off land no longer needed by Thames Water has paid out a 14 million pound ($17.33 million) dividend despite warnings that it could become engulfed by the water group’s financial woes.

– One of the top investors in Royal Mail’s owner has said it is vulnerable to “corporate predators”, arguing that a recent takeover bid by a Czech billionaire significantly undervalues the company.

The Telegraph

– ZTE 000063, a blacklisted Chinese telecoms company is being investigated by HMRC over alleged tax underpayments spanning a decade. ZTE admitted in its accounts it may owe as much as 1.5 million pounds to the taxman and has set aside a provision for the amount.

– Australian investment bank Macquarie is exploring a knock-down sale of Hull’s monopoly broadband provider KCOM amid growing competition from upstart networks.

Sky News

– Buyout firms Livingbridge and EMK Capital are among the suitors willing to pay more than 150 million pounds for the pan-European go-karting operator TeamSport, Sky News understands.

($1 = 0.8081 pounds)