11.   The Australian merger talks began last week after an announcement in Europe that Andersen was in talks with KPMG about merging their businesses outside the United States.

12.   The statement followed an announcement Monday in Europe that Andersen is in talks with KPMG about merging their businesses outside the United States.

13.   UTV and IBC earlier this year merged their businesses after suffering severe financial problems.

14.   In the life assurance sector, shares in the Refuge Group and United Friendly rose after the companies announced that they would merge their businesses.

15.   The two companies propose to merge their businesses under a complicated company structure to be listed on the London and Australian bourses.

16.   The board of Kleinwort said on Thursday that it would look at the potential benefits which might arise if the two businesses were merged.

17.   The defence business would be merged with those of Matra, the defence division of Lagardere Groupe.