Northwest Could End Up Owning Rival Airline

Northwest Airlines Corp. could end up owning rival Midwest Air Group Inc., which has agreed to a $450 million buyout offer from private equity firm TPG Capital. Northwest is a passive investor in the deal and may eventually buy Midwest outright, TPG partner Richard P. Schifter said in a conference call. The equity firm may want to cash out of the deal some day, he said, and Minneapolis-based Northwest could become the sole owner. Schifter said such a move could be several years away.