2nd June 2008, 12:30 PM   by Eric M. Zeman

Five companies have recently appeared as frontrunners as potential purchasers of Huawei's handset business. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Bain Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs' private equity arm, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., and Silver Lake Partners are the top five bidders. The winning bid for the Chinese company's assets, which include its mobile devices and laptop cards, will likely top $2 billion. Huawei hopes by selling its handset business to private investors, the business can grow is presence in the North American market.

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