41.   The merger comes amid pressure for European banks to cut costs amid rising competition.

42.   The merger comes as drugmakers scramble to combine to shave costs and to increase market share.

43.   The merger comes as the car parts industry is consolidating to meet growing demand from carmakers as they expand and buy more from outside companies.

44.   The merger comes as U.S. commercial real estate prices, led by suburban office properties, are up for a fourth straight year amid a strong economy.

45.   The merger comes as U.S. commercial real estate prices, led by suburban office properties, are up for the fourth straight year amid a strong economy.

46.   The merger comes at a time when suppliers worldwide are scaling back their operations to cut costs amid falling world prices.

47.   The merger comes at a time when the entertainment business is rebounding strongly.

48.   The merger comes at a time when Westinghouse, once known for light bulbs and refrigerators, transforms into a media empire.

49.   The merger comes during a record-breaking year for U.S. bank mergers, as bankers position themselves for an era of unrestricted interstate banking.

50.   The merger did not come as a surprise in hardware circles, where negotiations between the two co-ops had been widely rumored.