21.   Executives close to the company said it had conducted preliminary talks with several possible buyers, though no deal is imminent.

22.   Former Massachusetts coach John Calipari, who has said he wants to return to college coaching and has already had preliminary talks about a job at Memphis.

23.   He has begun preliminary talks on a new set of spots for next season.

24.   He said preliminary talks are still a long way off.

25.   In addition, there have been preliminary talks with officials from UCLA and USC about moving their home games to the new stadium.

26.   In addition, Digital had held preliminary talks with IBM about using some of its excess factory capacity to build the Alpha chip.

27.   Instead, the Cardinals have entered into preliminary talks to sign Gaetti beyond this season.

28.   It has been negotiating with the International Association of Machinists union since last fall and started preliminary talks with the Air Line Pilots Association this month.

29.   Informal preliminary talks had begun in June.

30.   Isles general manager Mike Milbury has had preliminary talks with interim coach Bill Stewart about a contract extension.