21.   Earlier this year Credit Communal discussed a merger with Banque Bruxelles Lambert SA, another Belgian bank.

22.   Executives met in several cities, including New York and Montreal, in the last month to discuss the merger.

23.   Executives for the two companies began negotiating their agreement three weeks ago, though Bersema said they had previously discussed a merger as much as nine months ago.

24.   For example, Citicorp and American Express discussed a merger late last year, then discarded the idea.

25.   For example, Citicorp and American Express discussed a merger late last year and then discarded the idea.

26.   Gibbons, the Mid-Continent president, declined to discuss the merger.

27.   He kept his cards close to the vest as the merger was discussed in recent weeks.

28.   In February, Wallace rejected a suggestion by Moore that the two companies discuss a merger.

29.   In recent weeks, executives close to the talks have said they were discussing a merger of equals.

30.   In recent years, however, the unions have signed a nonaggression pact, pledging not to raid each other and agreeing to discuss a merger.