June 7 (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 Mitie avoids outsourcing woes with return to profit https://on.ft.com/2WhOGR3
Odey wades into Acacia-Barrick bid battle https://on.ft.com/2WojNup Ofcom chief Sharon White appointed chair of John Lewis https://on.ft.com/2Xw7ayC
Aviva to slash 1,800 jobs in cost-cutting drive https://on.ft.com/2WkL68D
Overview Mitie Group PLC MTO.L said on Thursday that it hopes to take work from rival Interserve PLC and its Chief Operating Officer Phil Bentley added it had already "made it to a couple of government framework contracts where Interserve had been the incumbent". Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO is under pressure to increase its proposed buyout offer for Acacia Mining PLC ACAA.L after Odey Asset Management, which has a 1.62% holding in Acacia intervened and approached the miner with the idea of buying the rights it holds over any future investment by Barrick in Africa.
John Lewis Partnership has appointed Sharon White, the head of UK telecoms and media regulator Ofcom, as its new chairman. She will replace Charlie Mayfield when he steps down in early 2020.
Aviva PLC AV.L is to cut 1,800 jobs in an effort to save 300 million pounds ($380.82 million) of costs annually, in an attempt to revitalise the 300-year-old British insurer. ($1 = 0.7878 pounds)