41.   Later it backtracked and left open the possibility of a higher offer.

42.   Lloyds has the option of making a higher offer or of taking its case directly to shareholders, who are likely to be more receptive.

43.   Long Island Bancorp did not return phone calls seeking comment on why the higher offer was rebuffed.

44.   National Gypsum rejected that offer three days later, but added it would consider a higher offer.

45.   Norweb had said yesterday it planned to recommend accepting the North West Water offer unless a higher offer came in.

46.   People close to the negotiations said a higher offer may be in the works from a group led by a firm outside Canada.

47.   Radio stations routinely bump traditional advertisers, such as auto dealers and malls, from scheduled spots when a higher offer from a dot-com comes in, Becker said.

48.   Rocky Mountain said its board rejected the higher offer last week primarily because of improvement in its financial results over the last several months.

49.   Several analysts said the battle could intensify further, with still higher offers from both bidders.

50.   Several large shareholders said Tuesday that they would vote against the First Bank deal if given the alternative of a higher offer by Wells Fargo.