21.  In the past, it seems that struggling agencies were able to spend time restoring themselves to competitive positions.

22.  It will not take much for Middleby to improve its competitive position.

23.  It let United reduce its cost structure and immediately strengthen its competitive position, says spokesman Matt Triaca.

24.  McCrea said bringing the two airlines together will improve the competitive position of both, leading to increased revenue.

25.  Now, with companies of similar size pairing off to improve their competitive position against behemoths, the task gets more complex.

26.  On the other hand, companies such as TJX Cos. and Boston Scientific Corp. made acquisitions that bolstered their already strong competitive positions.

27.  Q. Is Vanguard in a better competitive position versus Fidelity because of their management changes?

28.  She said cable operators had also enhanced their competitive position versus regional Bell operating companies and satellite television operators by improving infrastructure and customer relations.

29.  That puts McCain in a competitive position for the increasingly important Hispanic vote in California and helps him defuse what is widely seen as a Bush advantage.

30.  The announcement by Telekom comes as pending deregulation shakes up the European telecommunications market, prompting new alliances as companies try to shore up their competitive positions.