51.   Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Matthew Thornton Health Plan signed aletter of intentThursday,making their previously announced merger plans official.

52.   Hafslund shareholders welcomed the merger plan, though.

53.   He mentioned merger plans announced Wednesday between Staples and Office Depot and higher prices for J.C. Penney stock.

54.   He said that despite his continued opposition to the merger plans, he supports the company and would have done so even if the merger were completed.

55.   He insisted that the merger plans would continue.

56.   Heiman said that creditor group had indicated that it would vote in favor of the merger plan.

57.   He said the merger plan also ignored or omitted certain items, such as a need for more nursing services should the two networks combine their chemotherapy departments.

58.   HP plans to file its detailed merger plan with the Securities Exchange Commission within the next few days.

59.   Human rights activists suggested that France and the Netherlands were primarily responsible for the EU protest, after banks complained that the Massachusetts law could complicate their merger plans.

60.   HP spokeswoman Rebeca Robboy said the merger plan to be released in February would include a list of which HP and Compaq products the new company intends to keep.