111.  Many independent companies are stepping stones for bands that hope to be discovered by major labels.

112.  Maybe not as an independent company, maybe broken into parts, but it will live.

113.  McDonnell Douglas had suffered several setbacks over the past few months, all of which strengthened suggestions that it could not survive as an independent company.

114.  Meanwhile New Regency, an independent company headed by producer Arnon Milchan, has been on a similar shopping spree for partners.

115.  Mercury has been in negotiations with creditors to secure funding that will help it remain an independent company.

116.  Most get their start with smaller independent companies, then try to move to the majors, where jobs can be steadier and opportunities for advancement more numerous.

117.  Merger experts predict that media companies will make alliances this year with the remaining independent portal companies, including Lycos, Excite, Alta Vista and maybe even Yahoo.

118.  NEPOOL has been accused of favoring high-cost, utility-owned power plants over less expensive power from independent companies.

119.  Most independent companies have been gobbled up by Goliaths, such as ConAgra Beef Co.

120.  Nippon Investors Service Inc., an independent rating company, said it would review its ratings on all Japanese banks because of the possibility of large write-offs.