Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. are among six leading bidders for Taiwan's China Network Systems Co.,in a sale valued at $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion.

Macquarie Group of Cos. and buyout firms CVC Asia Pacific, MBK Partners and Texas Pacific Group and were also selected in the first round of bids for the island's biggest cable operator by subscribers, said the two people, who asked not to be identified before an announcement. China Network Systems, owned by the Koos, one of Taiwan's richest families, and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., said shareholders were considering a sale.

Buyout funds have spent $2.4 billion buying two of the three biggest Taiwan broadband and media companies since December, more than half of all takeovers by overseas companies on the island in that time. Investors are betting cable operators will introduce new technology and services to boost earnings and attract customers.

"Cable TV operators in Taiwan are looking for possible changes in the regulations which will enable them to use new technology to improve the scope of their services," said Dominic Grant, a Taipei-based analyst with Macquarie Securities Asia Ltd. The bidders may be asked to submit new offers next month.

Source:佚名