61.   But Rod Fox, chief executive of Benfield Blanch, a brokerage based in Dallas that secures reinsurance, was urging clients to close deals quickly.

62.   But still, the Stars closed the deal.

63.   But some real estate executives wondered if Vornado would actually close the deal, because Roth of Vornado has a reputation as a tough and difficult negotiator.

64.   But state Supreme Court Judge Herman Cahn, in a ruling issued late Monday, found Siemens was aware of the difficulties before it closed the deal.

65.   But the airline closed the deal without first reaching an agreement with the union over how it would merge the two carriers.

66.   But the competitive tax offers it got were attractive, the company said, and, in Rhode Island, helped close the deal.

67.   But she says the ads helped her attract banking clients, for whom she closes real estate deals, from around the country.

68.   By this past weekend, with Nacchio in Atlanta to close the deal, only details remained.

69.   By closing the deal in Nassau, they avoided not only the federal tax but state sales tax.

70.   Cendant also said that AIG had falsely suggested that it expected to close its deal sooner than was actually likely to discourage shareholder support for the higher offer.