July 23 (Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening higher on Wednesday, with futures FFIc1 up 0.6%.

* SHAWBROOK BANK: The private equity owners of Shawbrook Bank are moving forward with plans for the 2 billion pounds ($2.71 billion) initial public offering in London this year, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

* PRUDENTIAL: Prudential PRU.L has kicked off the search for a successor to chair Shriti Vadera, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

* SHELL: A subsidiary of Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC) announced on Tuesday a final investment decision with Shell Egypt SHEL.L to develop gas exploration at Egypt's Mina West field, Kuwaiti state news agency reported.

* PD PORTS: Zara founder Amancio Ortega's investment vehicle Pontegadea Inversiones has agreed to acquire a 49% stake in PD Ports from Brookfield Asset Management BAM.TO, the British ports and logistics company said on Tuesday.

* TRADE DEAL: India and Britain will sign a free trade agreement on Thursday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UK visit, officials said.

* PAY: Pay settlements by British private-sector employers held at 3% in the three months to June, representing a pay cut in inflation-adjusted terms for many workers, according to a survey published on Wednesday.

* COMMODITIES: Oil prices edged up in Asian trade, gold eased, and most-traded metals on the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose on Wednesday.

* FTSE: Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 index .FTSE rose on Tuesday to a record close for a second straight session.

* UK CORPORATE DIARY:

* For more on the factors affecting European stocks, please click on: LIVE/

TODAY'S UK PAPERS> Financial Times PRESS/FT> Other business headlines PRESS/GB

(Compiled by Nithyashree R B in Bengaluru)

((NithyashreeRB@thomsonreuters.com;))