1.   At the center of this controversy are Leschly and John Stafford, chairman of American Home Products, who have each had two failed mergers this year.

2.   Barr advised on the two biggest mergers this year.

3.   Several U.S. banks have announced mergers this year, which analysts say will lead to a market dominated by larger banks.

4.   Suez was behind the merger this year of Tractebel SA and Powerfin SA, two Belgian utilities owned by its Generale de Belgique unit.

5.   That was the case in the other big West Coast merger this year, the combination of Portland-based U.S. Bancorp and Boise-headquartered West One Bancorp.

6.   The cross-ownership aimed to pave the way for a full-blown merger a few years down the line.

7.   The companies plan to complete the merger this year, pending approvals from regulators and shareholders.

8.   The drop in merger-related layoffs belies the record-setting pace of company mergers this year.

9.   The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to rule on the merger this year.

10.   The insurance industry was among the most active for mergers this year.