1. After lengthy negotiations between the two corporations, the merger was .......... by mutual agreement.

2. Intil further research was carried out, the company would not even be .......... expanding its facilities.

3. The factory's environmentally-friendly image was .......... by its continued dumping of chemical waste.

4. The printing company's lawyers went to great lengths to protect the identity of the anonymous author. They said they were under no obligation to .......... any information to the public.

5. The family had a(n) .......... interest in maintaining their connections with the insurance firm.

6. The firm wanted to launch a takeover bid but was hampered by .......... difficulties.

7. In return for a generous payout, one board member .......... his boardroom voting rights.

8. The new stock reserves were .......... quickly.

9. The investor rushed into adding several bank shares to her portfolio, .......... of the advice of her financial advisor.

10. The meeting .......... were recorded by the new administration officer.