21.   The purchase of First Fidelity, of Lawrenceville, is the biggest bank acquisition ever.

22.   The speculation comes amid a wave of bank acquisitions of securities firms in the U.S.

23.   The takeover speculation comes amid a spate of bank acquisitions of securities firms.

24.   This would be the biggest bank acquisition ever.

25.   To Brown, this is a strong signal that big bank acquisitions will continue at high prices.

26.   Top prices in recent bank acquisitions have been for about twice book value.

27.   Argus said Tuesday that National is on the way to becoming a financial conglomerate with its strategy of regional bank acquisitions and is looking at opportunities in Asia.

28.   The bank said acquisitions made last year, two of them in the United States, fueled the net profit rise.

29.   The increase was due largely to a series of bank acquisitions by the financial groups Banco Bilbao Vizcaya and Banco Santander.