(Ruben Ochandiano), on the set, ostensibly to shoot a "making of" video, as a means to keep an eye on Lena.Movie references begin to pile up. The UKTreasury is preparing to formally notify the European Commissionof the details of Britain's asset protection scheme in order toensure compliance with European state aid regulation. EUROPEAN THREAT HANGS OVER LLOYDS' HEAD It is expected Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) will issue awarning on Wednesday that it still faces the threat of action bythe European Commission under European state aid rules. The cost of the project has risen by more than onebillion pounds since Connect Plus was made the preferred bidderin July last year, despite the fact that plans to widen twocongested sections of the motorway have been abandoned. The Highways Agency will agree on Wednesday to pay theConnect Plus Consortium, comprising Atkins (ATKW.L), BalfourBeatty (BALF.L), Egis Projects and Skanska (SKAb.ST), 6.2billion pounds in today's prices over the next 30 years tomaintain the M25 motorway and add a fourth lane in somesections. Last week saw 46 percent ofshareholders vote against pay proposals at Amec (AMEC.L) PFI DEAL FOR M25 UPGRADE AGREED DESPITE ONE BILLION POUND. Though the rejection is only advisory, chairmanJorma Ollila said: "We as the board take the outcome of thisvote very seriously." Last month, 38 percent of BP (BP.L)shareholders rejected its pay plans.

Three-fifths of shareholders at theannual meeting voted down a plan which would have seen directorsawarded discretionary bonuses despite the company's failure toachieve targets. The Times Stocks  |  Global Markets  |  Russia  |  France  |  Mexico SHELL'S PAY COMMITTEE BEARS BRUNT OF GROWING INVESTOR ANGER Royal Dutch Shell's (RDSa.L) executive pay plan was rejectedon Tuesday by investors, who also called for the resignation ofthe pay-setting committee. Stocks  |  Mergers & Acquisitions  |  Global Markets  |  Private Capital  |  Japan Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Rankin was Head of InvestmentBanking, Asia Pacific, at UBS (UBSN.VX) (Reporting by Michael Flaherty; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner) Stocks Mergers & Acquisitions Global Markets Private Capital Japan. HONG KONG, May 20 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) onWednesday said it appointed Robert Rankin as Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Asia Pacific (ex Japan) effective June 10, replacingColin Grassie, who is returning to Europe.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun shrugged offworries that the won had been appreciating too fast, indicatingthat he had no plans to intervene. [ID:nSEO81618]0310 GMT0010 GMTprev close Won KRW= 1,252.4/3.1 1,247.6/8.2 1,249.5 Yen/won JPYKRW=R13.0902/6812.9984/0112.9500/13 KOSPI1,432.431,429.791,428.21 (Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo and Lee Soo-jung; Editing by ChrisLewis). Seoul sharesrose 0.30 percent as foreign investorsbought a net 276.1 billion won worth of stocks on the mainexchange. The won was quoted at 1,252.4/3.1 per dollar as of 0310 GMT,compared with Tuesday's domestic close KRW=KFTC of 1,249.5 Itstrengthened to as firm as 1,244.9.

"The won came under pressure from importer deals and as banksbuilt up dollar-long positions," said a foreign bank dealer. (Updates to midday) SEOUL, May 20 (Reuters) - The South Korean won KRW= turnedslightly lower against the dollar on Wednesday in choppy trade asimporters such as refiners bought the U.S currency forsettlements. Later on Wednesday, the Bank of Thailand is expected tomake its fifth straight interest rate cut since December tosoften the impact of recession, although that will probably beits last easing this year, according to economists polled byReuters. [nBKK373208] (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Alan Raybould). Thai banks are under pressure from the central bank and thegovernment to pass on cuts in official interest rates tocustomers to help stimulate the economy. The bank's prime lending rate will be reduced to 5.875percent from 6.0 percent, while its minimum overdraft ratefalls to 6.125 percent from 6.25 percent and its minimum retailrate to 6.375 percent from 6.50 percent, Suwan Tansathit said.

(Reporting by Kevin Drawbaugh, Patrick Rucker, Jeremy Pelofskyand Rachelle Younglai; Editing by Kim Coghill) Stocks Regulatory News Bonds Global Markets Funds News ETFs News. BANGKOK, May 20 (Reuters) - Thailand's top lender, BangkokBank BBL.BK, will cut its lending rates by 12.5 basis pointseffective on Thursday, a bank spokesman said on Wednesday. The financial services industry would be solidly opposed toa powerful new agency like the Federal Trade Commission, saidone lobbyist who asked not to be identified. Securities and ExchangeCommission and state agencies, of authorities they now have. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro has already spoken out againstapproaches that would strip her agency of its ability toprotect investors and regulate markets. Creating an agency with such powers would mean strippingexisting agencies, such as the U.S. Such an agency could warn consumers of the riskiness of afinancial product.