Aussie PM says no reason for Qantas to break up
Canberra: Australian Prime Minister John Howard said his government would not change foreign ownership limits on Qantas Airways Ltd and said there was no case to break up the airline.

Qantas and Australia's Macquarie Bank Ltd confirmed on Wednesday they were discussing a buyout proposal, which is also reported to involve US private equity investor Texas Pacific Group and Pacific Equity Partners.
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Carlyle group to bid for Taiwanese firm
New York: A private equity consortium led by The Carlyle Group is planning to make a $5.5 billion bid for the world's biggest microchip packaging firm, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. The Carlyle bid could be at T$39 a share, and represents a 10 percent premium to Taiwan-based ASE's Friday closing price of T$35.5 a share, valuing ASE at about T$179 billion ($5.46 billion).

Private equity firms, which look for steady cash flow and long-term growth prospects, are investing in the maturing semiconductor industry as it goes through a phase of slower but steadier growth.
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