OPERATING SYSTEM: The company will offer three different versions of the software for home users, two for business users and one for emerging markets
Microsoft Corp said yesterday it plans to sell six versions of the Windows Vista operating system, including a consumer edition with entertainment features now sold separately, to spark sales of the new software.

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FRENCH CONNECTION: Executives at the energy firms expect the merger to be completed by the end of the year and create annual savings of 500 million euros
France's Suez SA and Gaz de France (GDF) said yesterday that their boards have approved an all share, one-for-one merger in a deal that will create one of the world's largest utilities, worth more than 70 billion euros (US$83.27 billion).

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South Korea's KT&G Corp yesterday rejected an unsolicited takeover bid by a group of investors led by US billionaire Carl Icahn.

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National Grid Plc, the British owner of electric utilities in New York and Massachusetts, agreed to buy KeySpan Corp for US$7.3 billion in cash, an acquisition that almost doubles the number of US customers it serves.

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■ Glass industry
Nippon Sheet to buy UK firm
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