(Adds company news items, futures)
July 12 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen
opening 31 points higher at 7,541 on Friday, according to
financial bookmakers, with futures FFIc1 up 0.30% ahead of the
cash market open.
* WPP: WPP WPP.L said U.S.-based private equity firm Bain
Capital would buy a 60% stake in Kantar, valuing the data
analytics unit at about $4 billion in the proposed deal.
* INTERSERVE: Britain's troubled outsourcer Interserve
Group Ltd said Chairman Glyn Barker will be replaced by his
counterpart in Safestyle UK SFES.L Alan Lovell, months after
the company was placed in administration following a rescue
plan. * HISCOX: British insurer Hiscox Ltd HSX.L said the
market had continued to deteriorate from last year's
catastrophes such as typhoon Jebi in Japan and hurricane Michael
in Florida, and expected first-half earnings to be between $150
million and $170 million. * JOHN MENZIES: John Menzies Plc MNZS.L said Chairman
Dermot Smurfit will step down after the company appointed an
aviation services industry expert to the role to help ride out
tough times in the sector. * LOOKERS: Car dealership chain Lookers Plc LOOK.L said
it anticipates full-year underlying pretax profit below its
expectations as it battled weaker car demand in Britain in June
and margin pressures. * EASYJET: Britain's Unite Union said on Thursday Stansted
airport check-in staff at Easyjet Plc EZJ.L will go on strike
for over a fortnight starting in July, as employees demand
similar pay to other companies that operate at the airport.
* RECKITT BENCKISER: Reckitt Benckiser RB.L has agreed to
pay up to $1.4 billion to resolve U.S. claims that its former
pharmaceuticals business Indivior before it was spun out of the
company carried out an illegal scheme to boost sales of an
opioid addiction treatment. * THOMAS COOK: China's Fosun Tourism Group 1992.HK is in
advanced talks with Thomas Cook Group Plc TCG.L and its
lenders regarding a combined 750 million pound ($940 million)
fund-raising by the world's oldest travel company. * The UK blue chip index closed 0.3% lower on Thursday, as
investors sold off healthcare stocks after Washington withdrew a
rebate rule aimed at lowering drug prices, and a Fed-fuelled
rally fizzled out. * For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please
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