11.   Sources say officials of both organizations have been in contact for several years, discussing scenarios under which the Examiner would acquire its rival.

12.   Stock market advances gave many companies the ability to acquire rivals in share swaps.

13.   That puts more pressure on small retailers, forcing them to band together or acquire rivals, too.

14.   The Supreme Court ruled the thrifts were damaged because the government loosened accounting rules to encourage them to acquire weak rivals only to have Congress outlaw the practice.

15.   U.S. banks are paying high prices as they acquire rivals to increase market share and cut operating costs.

16.   Utilities also are acquiring rivals, expanding overseas and offering new services, such as cable TV.

17.   Western, once only a regional electric and natural gas utility, is becoming a national company by acquiring rivals and expanding into new products.

18.   With plans to acquire its rival McDonnell Douglas, Boeing is positioning itself to become the largest and most powerful aerospace company in the world.

19.   With the purchase, Cigna joins other U.S. insurers trying to boost profits by acquiring rivals.

20.   At the same time, however, politicians are impeding airline consolidation by blocking foreign competitors from acquiring weaker rivals.