1.   And third, stockholders have agitated with managements to sell at a premium rather than pursue defensive mergers, which do not carry a premium.

2.   Banking industry analysts said the deal would encourage other large financial companies around the world to pursue mergers of their own to remain competitive.

3.   Bank of Boston executives have said that they wantto pursue a merger that would increase its size while preserving its headquarters in Boston.

4.   Bank of Boston held negotiations with several other banks, including Mellon Bank Corp., before deciding to pursue a merger with Corestates.

5.   Bijur said last fall that Texaco would pursue a merger if it made sense for shareholders.

6.   Abbey National has repeatedly rebuffed Lloyds advances, preferring instead to pursue a merger of equals with Bank of Scotland.

7.   After that prize got away, the bank spent eight months pursuing a merger with Shawmut.

8.   Even though times were good, companies were furiously closing plants, installing equipment to replace workers and pursuing mergers to cut costs.

9.   First is the governance issue of how the board decided to pursue the merger.

10.   For example, a company pursuing a merger might test how customers of its acquisition target feel about its brand.