41.   Hospitals would potentially be hardest hit if the state decides Harvard Pilgrim can pay only a fraction of past-due bills, industry executives said.

42.   If they do form an alliance, each company might take a small ownership stake in the other, the executives said.

43.   If you take Dole at his word, however, the plan is either not credible or will damage the economy, say some executives.

44.   If the agreement is approved, Nichols will become a division of Highwoods Properties Inc. Nichols will retain its name and continue operating fairly independently, executives said.

45.   If the talks fail, it is unlikely that Thinking Machines will survive, said the executives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

46.   In addition, Lucent could not have picked a worse time to start a new pure research venture, several Silicon Valley executives said.

47.   In the past, Congress and the IRS as largely ignored the industry because of its small size, but the recent boom could change that, executives said.

48.   Inflation is the more significant risk with a strengthening economy, executives said.

49.   Inflation is the more significant risk with the stronger economy, executives said.

50.   International Game Technology said six executives who left for competitor Casino Data Systems Inc. in December agreed to return following the resignation of IGT Chief Executive David Hanlon.