Sunday newspaper round-up: RBS, Scottish independence, Prudential

Royal Bank of Scotland could have a pension funding gap of up to 5.6bn pounds if Scotland votes to leave the UK, the Sunday Times reported.Other companies such as Lloyds Banking Group and BP would also be affected by a hole of about £100bn in UK corporate retirement plans, according to Credit Suisse. Some companies would be forced to break up their pension schemes or raise cash from shareholders. Pension schemes with members in both Scotland and the rest of the UK would be deemed "cross border" after a vote for independence. EU rules say these schemes must be fully funded.Alistair Darling, the leader of the campaign against Scottish independence, has effectively declared victory four days before the referendum on September 18th, the Observer reported. He said his campaign's polling showed beyond doubt that Scotland would stay in the UK. A poll for the paper showed 53% of those certain to vote would do so for staying in the UK against 47% favouring independence. Polls in the previous day ranged from an eight-point lead for independence to an eight-point lead for the union, the Observer said.Most FTSE 100 chairmen believe a vote for Scottish independence would damage the UK economy, a poll for the Sunday Telegraph showed. The poll found 80% thought a yes vote would have a "significant negative effect" on the UK while 67% said independence would harm Britain's top companies. The Centre for Policy Studies predicted independence would wipe £13.8bn off government revenues in Scotland next year. The paper also said Hewlett Packard warned Britain's tax and benefit infrastructure would need a massive overhaul if Scotland votes yes.Prudential is set to cash in on the sale of Associated British Ports (ABP), the Sunday Times said. Prudential's infrastructure arm owns 10% of the ports operator, which is expected to sell for more than £4bn. Goldman Sachs owns 23% of ABP.Diageo faces a shareholder rebellion over pay at the international drinks giant, the Sunday Times reported. Corporate governance groups and shareholders have said bosses' pay is excessive compared with their base salaries. Pirc, the shareholder adviser, has given the pay policy a "red top" rating before Diageo's annual meeting on September 18th. Diageo said its pay levels were "appropriately positioned".The British Bankers' Association has said mortgage borrowers could be frozen out of the market by new rules forcing banks to hold billions of pounds of extra capital against home loans, the Sunday Telegraph said. Lenders could be forced to increase mortgage costs under Bank of England proposals for a leverage ratio to regulate bank capital.The founder of Phones 4U has attacked Vodafone for its decision to cut ties with the retailer in favour of Dixons Carphone, the Sunday Telegraph reported. John Caudwell said Vodafone's move, which threatens 6,000 high street jobs, was "ruthless" and called for a public boycott of the mobile phone operator. "If the public actually felt strongly enough they know what they could do, they could vote with their feet and move their business to other networks," Caudwell said.Farrow & Ball, the upmarket paint company, is considering a flotation after its private equity owners put it on the block, the Sunday Times said. European Capital, which has hired Rothschild to review the business, paid £100m for the company eight years ago and it could now be valued at about £250m.Towerbrook, the US private equity house, is going ahead with a sale of Phase Eight that could value the women's fashion retailer at £300m, the Sunday Telegraph said. Towerbrook has hired Rothschild to advise on an auction later this year. The paper also said Survitec, the defence equipment company, could also be put up for sale by its private equity owner Warburg Pincus with other buyout firms in the running to acquire it.