11.   Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who participated in the final phases of the talks, conceded that the proposed deal had loopholes.

12.   Aviation specialists said the deal has tremendous strategic benefits for American, by keeping it within hailing distance of a United-US Airways mega-airline.

13.   Both advocates and opponents agreed that any deal will have to make provisions for tobacco farmers.

14.   A deal by Westinghouse has its logic.

15.   A final deal has yet to be struck on those levels.

16.   A reluctant trader, Gauthier says every deal has two sides.

17.   A Time Warner deal would also have to navigate the idiosyncrasies and agendas of some of the entertainment industries biggest personalities.

18.   According to Clifton, the deal had a low base salary but was loaded with incentives.

19.   Both deals have the potential of adding millions to annual sales, company officials said.!

20.   But a United deal had numerous stumbling blocks.