81.   Since the companies announced their merger, shares of both drug makers have fallen.

82.   Some of these issues were being addressed even as the merger was announced.

83.   Since the merger was announced in September, Staples has thrived while Office Depot reported flat earnings.

84.   Such talk is a familiar ritual the day a big merger is announced and, usually, the gossip is indeed just that.

85.   That merger was announced last month and has not yet closed.

86.   The anticipated merger was announced two years ago.

87.   The branch conversion this weekend was almost exactly one year after the merger was announced and only five months after the deal was formally completed.

88.   The companies would also be following a trend, because in recent months several larger mergers have been announced between gas utilities and electric utilities.

89.   The companies plan to announce the merger today, the person said.