1.   An offer from two buyout firms might appeal to the president of Polygram, Alain Levy, and his management team.

2.   And American investment banks are gearing up their overseas operations to help buyout firms acquire companies abroad.

3.   And just because a buyout firm wants to buy, that does not mean a target company wants to sell.

4.   At a rare press conference called by Kohlberg, Kravis, lawyers for the buyout firm and for Walker Industries spoke of betrayals and breaches of trust.

5.   At a rare press conference called by Kohlberg, Kravis, lawyers for the buyout firm and for Walter Industries spoke of betrayals and breaches of trust.

6.   Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Co. are closely-held buyout firms in Boston.

7.   Bain Capital is a closely held corporate buyout firm.

8.   Both run successful, closely held corporate buyout firms.

9.   A leveraged buyout fund is a pool of money run by a buyout firm with assets culled from insurance companies, banks, pension plans and other institutional investors.

10.   A person close to the buyout firm said XO and McLeodUSA are considered long-term investments.