1.   All three purchased companies have strength in Europe.

2.   In many cases, the purchased company becomes a distinct subsidiary of the buying company.

3.   The purchased companies have been those with strong brands, not just big factories or strong engineering staffs.

4.   When an Internet service provider buys another ISP, the customers of the purchased company usually get to keep their old addresses.

5.   While the move and the newly purchased company both have Colorado connections, North Face and analysts say they are unrelated.