41.   But for all the merger talk, why has no bidder emerged so far?

42.   But merger talks that began last year have petered out.

43.   But now, several players have finally started merger talks, people close to the discussions said Wednesday.

44.   But merger talks came to a halt last month after top executives of both companies fought for control over the new company.

45.   But much like bourse merger talks in Western Europe, they have mostly gone nowhere.

46.   But two people close to Kerkorian said Wednesday that he did not know about the current merger talks until January, when they were already well under way.

47.   By combining with Yangzi -- Chinese officials say merger talks have taken place for years -- Yizheng could better control its costs.

48.   By combining with Yangzi -- officials say merger talks have taken place for years -- Yizheng could better control its costs.

49.   Cable and Wireless HKT and Singapore Telecom said their own merger talks, disclosed three weeks ago, were still in progress.

50.   Canmex Mineral Corp. and Copperstone Resources Corp. ended merger talks because of the objections of several key Canmex shareholders.