1.   Amersham said last month it was in talks with the Swedish-American drugmaker over such a merger, but analysts said the disclosed transaction was better than expected.

2.   Analysts said at the time such a merger would allow job reductions and allowed Superfos to cut prices.

3.   BankAmerica, meanwhile, has indicated in recent months that it is no longer interested in such a merger.

4.   A settlement prevents the court from ruling on whether such a merger was legal under the antitrust laws.

5.   A. Because of the General Accounting Office report on the negative impact of such a merger and the opposition of Congressman Jim Oberstar Democrat of Minnesota.

6.   Advocates say such a merger could make it more difficult for severely ill patients to get long-term hospital care.

7.   British Telecommunications is also frequently mentioned, but many analysts see major regulatory hurdles to such a merger, because the two companies have overlapping and competing businesses.

8.   But after some initial excitement, Canal Plus stock actually declined slightly amid doubts that European regulators would ever approve such a merger.

9.   But he was quick to say such a merger would not be likely to face regulatory difficulties because the combination would still be smaller than SBC or Verizon.

10.   But while Raytheon would grow stronger if it acquired Hughes, such a merger could mean fewer defense jobs in Massachusetts.