1.   As deregulation nears, utilities also are acquiring rivals, forming ventures in other countries and offering new services, such as cable television.

2.   Consolidation is sweeping the U.S. banking industry as companies acquire their rivals to reduce operating costs and gain customers.

3.   Fabri-Centers not only survived the industry consolidation, but also took advantage of the slump to acquire its rivals, such as Cloth World.

4.   Faced with stagnating beer consumption in the developed markets of the United States and Western Europe, brewers have been acquiring rivals to keep growing.

5.   In recent years bigger banks have acquired smaller rivals to cut costs while taking advantage of their size to boost revenue.

6.   In recent years bigger banks have acquired smaller rivals, to cut costs while taking advantage of their size to boost revenue.

7.   Moreover, Ciampi said banking companies that move quickly to acquire rivals or merge with other banks will get tax breaks for costs or losses arising from consolidation.

8.   South African Breweries ranks fifth and has increasingly been sidelined by Heineken and Interbrew as they acquired rivals.

9.   Some analysts said the company may acquire rivals to stave off competition.

10.   Stock swaps leave companies virtually debt-free -- and ready to acquire smaller rivals.