EVA AIR BUYS STAKE IN AIR MACAU

   Taiwanese airline EVA Air has strengthened its ties to Air Macau by
purchasing a 5-percent stake in the airline valued at HK$25 million ($3.2 million).
   EVA said it bought 2 million shares at HK$12.50 per share. Air Macau is based in Portuguese-controlled Macau, just west of Hong Kong in southern China. Macau will revert to Chinese rule on Dec. 20.
   EVA said the deal will help forwarders by improving air connections
between Taiwan and China. "With this arrangement, forwarders can easily ship goods to and from the most prosperous regions of mainland China in the north, central states and south," the carrier said.
   The equity stake expands an existing cooperative relationship between EVA and Air Macau.