AIRLINES

KLM, Northwest Agree on Stock Sale: Northwest Airlines has agreed to pay KLM Royal Dutch Airlines $378 million for 6,654 shares of Northwest preferred stock. The agreement is a purely financial transaction and will not affect the commercial alliance between the airlines, said Northwest spokesman Chris Clouser. In addition, the deal does not affect KLM’s 21.7 million shares of Northwest common stock. That leaves the Dutch carrier with its 19% stake in Northwest and its three seats on the Eagan, Minn.-based airline’s board of directors. KLM has sued Northwest over its implementation of a “poison pill” anti-takeover measure that prevents KLM from increasing its 19% stake in Northwest.