July 3 (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

- Apollo-backed Athora nearing takeover of UK's Pension Insurance Corporation

- Armour maker Kevlar targeted in $2 billion private equity race for DuPont assets

- Bumble chief criticises staff for 'freaking out' over London job cuts

- National Grid bosses claim they were not told of fire risk defect at Heathrow site

Overview

- Athora, a European-based insurer minority owned by ApolloAPO.N , is close to acquiring full ownership of UK retirement savings group Pension Insurance Corporation from a consortium of investors, including CVC Capital and Reinet Investments, a vehicle backed by South African billionaire Johann Rupert.

- Private equity groups Advent International and Platinum Equity are vying to buy $2 billion worth of assets, including the Kevlar bulletproof brand, from DuPontDD.N, as the chemicals giant undergoes a wider break-up.

- Bumble chief executive Whitney Wolfe Herd has criticised staff for "freaking out" after announcing the company would eliminate more than 160 roles in London, warning drastic cost-cutting measures were needed as "dating apps are feeling like a thing of the past".

- National Grid has insisted its management teams were "not made aware" of problems at a London electricity substation years before a fire in March that led to the closure of Heathrow airport for 24 hours.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)

((globalnewsmonitoring@thomsonreuters.com))