UK Stocks — Factors to watch on September 18

Sept 18 (Reuters) — Britain's FTSE 100 index is seen opening lower on Friday, with futures down 0.1%. SHELL: Partners in the Shell-led LNG Canada export project could reach a final investment decision on its Phase 2 expansion as early as next month, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. BP: BP said representatives from its 440,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery in Whiting, Indiana, and United Steelworkers union Local 7-1 will meet again next Tuesday. SOFTCAT: Softcat said it had agreed to buy U.S.-based GDT at an enterprise value of $1.05 billion, as it seeks to expand operations in North America. AIRTEL AFRICA: Airtel Africa's Airtel Money is considering downsizing its London IPO, which could launch as soon as next week, Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter. THAMES WATER: The British government should reject a creditor bid for Thames Water and put the embattled utility into temporary public ownership, a committee of lawmakers said, just months before the group runs out of cash. INDUSTRY: British finance minister John Healey will urge European Union counterparts to ensure Britain is not excluded from the bloc's planned "Made in Europe" industri