1.   American officials tacitly acknowledged early last month that they had met with counterparts from Northwest to discuss a merger.

2.   An Oracle spokeswoman and Manzi denied that a merger was being discussed.

3.   An even bigger bank merger is being discussed in Britain.

4.   And it was not until last Wednesday that he and Nacchio met to discuss the merger, the two men said.

5.   And, according to sources, as recently as three weeks ago, Bank of Boston was discussing a merger with Fleet.

6.   Barad disclosed the two companies began discussing a merger about one year ago, and talks intensified within the last six months.

7.   Banca Ambrosiano Veneto SpA holds an extraordinary shareholders meeting Thursday to discuss its merger with Cariplo, a private bank.

8.   Both B.P. and Amoco, the old Standard Oil of Indiana, were willing to discuss mergers of approximate equals.

9.   Additionally, French management must discuss proposed mergers with the workers.

10.   BT officials would not comment beyond saying the companies have held talks to discuss a merger.