1.   A joint effort by IBM and Lotus might have created a stronger challenge to Microsoft in both types of software while keeping Lotus independent.

2.   Icahn and Continental have said they would not lead a reorganization of TWA but are willing to help keep it independent.

3.   Instead, the board closed ranks behind Spindler, who argued for keeping Apple independent, and Graziano chose to quit.

4.   Jim P. Manzi, chairman and chief executive of Lotus, had rebuffed advances from IBM for months and was known to be committed to keeping Lotus independent.

5.   Naouri has been bent on keeping Casino independent.

6.   Shugrue opposed him and tried to keep it independent, winning further concessions from the unions.

7.   While Wallace vows to keep Mazda independent, the company is cooperating more with Ford on products.

8.   Bestfoods chairman and chief executive C.R. Shoemate has said in interviews since the Unilever offer became public that he would prefer to keep Bestfoods independent.

9.   In a series of wars against the Ottoman Turks, they tripled the area of the realm and kept it independent.

10.   Levitt also pushed for rules, set to take effect next year, that are designed to keep accountants independent from companies they audit.