Monday newspaper round-up: BHP Billiton, Vedanta, BAE Systems...

BHP Billiton could face an uphill struggle to sell its $39bn hostile bid for PotashCorp of Canada to its shareholders in a round of crunch briefings this week in the City and Scotland.

Some of the leading investors in the Anglo-Australian mining group are worried that it will be drawn into an expensive bidding war for the company, whose shares have surged past BHP's rejected $130-a-share offer, the Times reports.

Vedanta Resources is bracing itself for a crucial ruling by the Indian government this week on the company's planned bauxite mine in the eastern state of Orissa, which could finally lead to a decision on whether the project gets the go-ahead. The London-listed mining giant is expecting to hear the opinion of India's Forest Advisory Committee within the next few days. The committee has already been advised by a panel of experts that Vedanta should not be granted permission for the mine, the Independent reports.

The US state department will formulate a company specific "policy" to address export licence approvals for BAE Systems and its subsidiaries following an analysis of the UK defence group's guilty plea to criminal charges in March and discussions with BAE representatives, a department official said, reports the FT.

Several FTSE 100-listed resources companies are set to face nervous markets this morning, in the first day of trading since Australia's indecisive election result over the weekend raised the spectre of more changes to Canberra's planned super-tax on mining industry profits, the Independent reports.

Motorists across the country could be charged hundreds of pounds a year to park at work after councils were ordered by the Government to find new ways of raising money. It had been thought plans for workplace parking levies would be abandoned after ministers declared an end to the "war on motorists" within days of the Coalition's formation. But The Daily Telegraph has learned that a number of local authorities are actively examining introducing the charge in an attempt to raise funds.

A recruitment drive for extra staff to fight commercial crime has been started by the Financial Services Authority as it tackles proposals to strip it of the role regarded as one of its most important functions. Margaret Cole, the head of enforcement and financial crime, is taking on about 30 staff to strengthen her division, which takes action against breaches of City regulations and mounts criminal prosecutions, the Times reports.

Luminar is expected to pursue a refinancing of its £90m net debt burden in an attempt to allay mounting fears over its future. The move could go ahead even if the embattled nightclub operator avoids breaching its covenants when they are tested this week. The covenant test, due to take place on Thursday, will establish whether the Oceana and Liquid operator has breached its £175m facility, the Times reports.

David Cameron and other British ministers will "get out there" lobbying Russia and other oil-rich countries to give UK energy companies new business, according to Charles Hendry, the energy minister. In the past few weeks, the Government has called a meeting of ambassadors informing them that British politicians are actively looking to help UK businesses secure big deals abroad. Mr Hendry told The Daily Telegraph that the potential development of giant oil fields in northern Russia is a place where the Prime Minister or an energy minister should be promoting energy companies and key suppliers.

The number of businesses going bust that supply goods and services to the public sector has increased by 47%, as government spending cuts lead to delayed and cancelled contracts. According to accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy, 168 businesses in the health and social services, education and defence sectors went bust in the first half of this year, compared with 114 in the same period in 2009, suggesting austerity measures are already leading to business failures, the Telegraph reports.