31.   A decade long increase in competition has made it difficult for property and casualty insurers to raise policy premiums and increase earnings without acquiring other companies.

32.   A spokeswoman said the sales reflected normal volumes for the executives named, plus one large sale by an executive whose company was acquired by Silicon Graphics last year.

33.   A slowdown in earnings growth and aging products had spurred some investors to speculate the company would be acquired, analysts said.

34.   Acquiring companies that announce that most employees will be laid off risk upsetting workers.

35.   Acquiring a company such as Cyrix would be a very efficient way for SGS-Thomson to grow, analysts said.

36.   After my company, Vishay, acquired another company, an executive there resigned.

37.   Brentwood specializes in venture capital investments and leveraged buyouts, acquiring companies in a wide range of industries from health clubs to health care.

38.   But after IBM acquired the company, Big Blue vowed to reinvigorate sales of Lotus applications.

39.   But in recent years all three companies were acquired by major corporations.

40.   But not all female owner-operators want their companies to be acquired.