( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ emphasizes ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Cathay ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( NP ( NP ( DT any ) ( NN interest ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG swapping ) ( NP ( NN equity ) ( NNS stakes ) ) ( PP-CLR ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN carrier ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Lufthansa ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ West ) ( JJ German ) ( NN airline ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN with ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN cooperated ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( IN about ) ( DT a ) ( NN decade ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But he emphasizes that Cathay has n't any interest in swapping equity stakes with the U.S. carrier or with Lufthansa the West German airline with which it has cooperated for about a decade


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS Analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP believe ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Cathay ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN approached ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ such ) ( NNS swaps ) ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ other ) ( NNS carriers ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ regular ) ( NN basis ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( RB particularly ) ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN popularity ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN share ) ( NNS exchanges ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN grown ) ( PP-LOC ( IN among ) ( NP ( JJ European ) ( NNS carriers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Analysts believe Cathay is approached for such swaps by other carriers on a regular basis particularly as the popularity of share exchanges has grown among European carriers


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP think ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS alliances ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB very ) ( JJ important ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Eddington ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

We think alliances are very important Mr. Eddington says


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( MD 'd ) ( ADVP ( RB rather ) ) ( VP ( VB put ) ( NP ( NNS funds ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( JJ own ) ( NN business ) ) ( CONJP ( RB rather ) ( IN than ) ) ( NP ( NN someone ) ( NN else ) ( POS 's ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But we 'd rather put funds into our own business rather than someone else 's


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP I ) ) ( VP ( VBP 'm ) ( RB not ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ sure ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN cross-ownership ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( ADVP ( RB necessarily ) ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNS things ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJR smoother ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

I 'm not sure cross-ownership would necessarily make things smoother


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN pattern ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ aims ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB copy ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ several ) ( JJ key ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNS destinations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NNP Cathay ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( VP ( VBD announced ) ( NP ( NNS plans ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB serve ) ( NP ( NNP San ) ( NNP Francisco ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VP ( VBG flying ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP American ) ( NNPS Airlines ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNP Los ) ( NNP Angeles ) ( NN hub ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBG routing ) ( NP ( VBG continuing ) ( NNS passengers ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN onto ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN flight ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN carrier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In a pattern it aims to copy in several key U.S. destinations Cathay recently announced plans to serve San Francisco by flying into American Airlines ' Los Angeles hub and routing continuing passengers onto a flight on the U.S. carrier


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ big ) ( NN operation ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( NP ( NN one ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( JJ big ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( PRP us ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Pacific ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Eddington ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) )

We 'll never have a big operation in the U.S. and they 'll never have one as big as us in the Pacific Mr. Eddington says


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-ADV ( DT this ) ( NN way ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP American ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB coordinate ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ good ) ( NNS extensions ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Boston ) ) ( NP ( NNP New ) ( NNP York ) ) ( NP ( NNP Chicago ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Dallas ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But this way American will coordinate good extensions to Boston New York Chicago and Dallas


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( MD 'll ) ( VP ( VB coordinate ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN end ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS places ) ) ( PP ( IN like ) ( NP ( NNP Bangkok ) ( NNP Singapore ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Manila ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We 'll coordinate on this end to places like Bangkok Singapore and Manila


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( JJ Asian ) ( NN traffic ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( VBZ accounts ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 65 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Cathay ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( PP-MNR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN carrier ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN mainstay ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Asian traffic which currently accounts for 65 % of Cathay 's business is expected to continue as the carrier 's mainstay


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Cathay ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB long ) ) ( VP ( VBN stated ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN desire ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB double ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ weekly ) ( NNS flights ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNP China ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 14 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG applying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB restart ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ long-canceled ) ( NNS flights ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NNP Vietnam ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Cathay has long stated its desire to double its weekly flights into China to 14 and it is applying to restart long-canceled flights into Vietnam


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Further ) ( NN expansion ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ southern ) ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ possible ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bell ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ) )

Further expansion into southern Europe is also possible says Mr. Bell the spokesman


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ large ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN reincorporated ) ( ADVP-LOC ( RB offshore ) ) ( PP-TMP ( RB ahead ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1997 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PDT such ) ( DT a ) ( NN move ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN option ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Cathay ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB jeopardize ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN landing ) ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

While a large number of Hong Kong companies have reincorporated offshore ahead of 1997 such a move is n't an option for Cathay because it would jeopardize its landing rights in Hong Kong


( S ( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Eddington ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB emphatically ) ) ( VBZ rules ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN move ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP London ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ Our ) ( NN lifeblood ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ( NN traffic ) ( NNS rights ) ) ) ) )

And Mr. Eddington emphatically rules out a move to London Our lifeblood is Hong Kong traffic rights


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN airline ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN faith ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Sino-British ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN return ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP China ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He says the airline is putting its faith in the Sino-British agreement on Hong Kong 's return to China


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT A ) ( JJ special ) ( NN section ) ) ( VP ( VBG dealing ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN aviation ) ( NNS rights ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ states ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( NP ( VBG landing ) ( NNS rights ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS airlines ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJR smaller ) ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ( NNP Dragon ) ( NNPS Airlines ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN negotiated ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NNP Hong ) ( NNP Kong ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN government ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A special section dealing with aviation rights states that landing rights for Hong Kong 's airlines which include the smaller Hong Kong Dragon Airlines will continue to be negotiated by Hong Kong 's government


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS critics ) ) ( VP ( VBP fret ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ post-1997 ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ultimately ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ responsible ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Beijing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But critics fret that post-1997 officials ultimately will be responsible to Beijing


( SINV ( S-TPC-3 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ My ) ( NN feeling ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Cathay ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN hope ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ long ) ( NN run ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ declines ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN identified ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

My feeling is Cathay does n't have a hope in the long run says an analyst who declines to be identified


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Cathay ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB love ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( VP ( VBG going ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ general ) ( NN sense ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( SBAR-PRD ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB do ) ( NP ( NN something ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Cathay would love to keep going but the general sense is they 're going to have to do something


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Eddington ) ) ( VP ( VBZ acknowledges ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN carrier ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB evolve ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VB adapt ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ local ) ( NNS changes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ feels ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ Sino-British ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( JJ firm ) ( NN ground ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB build ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ foreseeable ) ( NN future ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Eddington acknowledges that the carrier will have to evolve and adapt to local changes but he feels that the Sino-British agreement is firm ground to build on for the foreseeable future


( S-2 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ confident ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ protects ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN route ) ( NN structure ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( PRP$ our ) ( NN ability ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB grow ) ( CC and ) ( VB prosper ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We 're confident that it protects our route structure he says and our ability to grow and prosper


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp ) ( NNPS Holdings ) ( NNP Ltd. ) ) ( VP ( VBD posted ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ fiscal ) ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 980.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NNS dollars ) ) ( PRN ( NP ( QP ( CD 762.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS largest ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ Australian ) ( JJ corporate ) ( NN history ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bond Corp Holdings Ltd. posted a loss for fiscal 1989 of 980.2 million Australian dollars 762.4 million the largest in Australian corporate history


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ( NN loss ) ) ( VP ( VBN compared ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 273.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That loss compared with a year-earlier profit of 273.5 million


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ preliminary ) ( JJ unaudited ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBN reported ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD posted ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN operating ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 814.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP June ) ( CD 30 ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NN operating ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 354.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In preliminary unaudited results reported Friday Bond Corp. also posted an operating loss of 814.1 million for the year ended June 30 compared with operating profit of 354.7 million a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN Operating ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 69 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 8.48 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5.01 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ) ) )

Operating revenue rose 69 % to 8.48 billion from 5.01 billion


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ net ) ( NN interest ) ( NN bill ) ) ( VP ( VBD jumped ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 85 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 686.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 371.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

But the net interest bill jumped 85 % to 686.7 million from 371.1 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS interests ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN brewing ) ) ( NP ( NNS media ) ( CC and ) ( NNS communications ) ) ( NP ( JJ natural ) ( NNS resources ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NN property ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bond Corp. has interests in brewing media and communications natural resources and property


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Much ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS losses ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD stemmed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ one-time ) ( NNS write-downs ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN value ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS assets ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT those ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS units ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Much of Bond Corp. 's losses stemmed from one-time write-downs of the value of some of Bond Corp. 's assets and those of its units


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNS results ) ) ( VP ( VBD included ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 453.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN write-off ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ future ) ( NN income-tax ) ( NNS benefits ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN provision ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 149.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN sale ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 20 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Lonrho ) ( NNP PLC ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The results included a 453.4 million write-off of future income-tax benefits and a provision for a loss of 149.5 million on the sale of a stake of about 20 % in Lonrho PLC


( S ( ADVP ( RB However ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN tax ) ( NNS benefits ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP remain ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ available ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RBR later ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

However Bond Corp. said the tax benefits remain available and might be used later


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN before ) ( NP ( NN interest ) ( CC and ) ( NN tax ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NN brewing ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD dived ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 50 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 123.8 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 247.3 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) )

Earnings before interest and tax from brewing dived 50 % to 123.8 million from 247.3 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ general ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN performance ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN brewing ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( NP ( NNP G. ) ( NNP Heileman ) ( NNP Brewing ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ disappointing ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT this ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN reflected ) ( PP-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS results ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The company said the general financial performance of its U.S. brewing operations G. Heileman Brewing Co. was disappointing and this has been reflected in the results


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( VBD closed ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN before ) ( NP ( NP ( NN news ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 28 ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB up ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NN cent ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bond Corp. 's shares closed Friday before news of the results at 28 Australian cents a share up one Australian cent


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ staggering ) ( NNS losses ) ) ( VP ( VBP cap ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ tumultuous ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Alan ) ( NNP Bond ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN flagship ) ) ( NP ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The staggering losses cap a tumultuous year for Alan Bond and his flagship Bond Corp


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( RB Only ) ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ controls ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 58 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD appeared ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBG building ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN war ) ( NN chest ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB attack ) ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ big ) ( NNS companies ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Only a year ago the chairman of Bond Corp. who controls about 58 % of the company appeared to be building a war chest to attack some big companies


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Now ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN agreed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( PDT half ) ) ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NN brewing ) ( NNS assets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Now Bond Corp. has agreed to sell at least half its Australian brewing assets


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN sold ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS billions ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS dollars ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS assets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( JJR more ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN block ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It has sold billions of dollars of other assets and has more on the block


( S ( CC But ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN TV ) ( NN interview ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Sunday ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Bond ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ big ) ( NN loss ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But in a TV interview Sunday Mr. Bond said We 've taken a big loss


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP 've ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN chin ) ) ) ) ) )

We 've taken it on the chin


( S ( CC But ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( ADVP-LOC-PRD ( IN out ) ( RB there ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP 're ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB stay ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But we 're out there and we 're going to stay in business


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD signaled ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB focus ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG building ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( ADJP ( JJ domestic ) ( CC and ) ( JJ international ) ) ( NNS media ) ( CC and ) ( NNS communications ) ( NNS businesses ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bond Corp. signaled it will focus on building its domestic and international media and communications businesses


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB look ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS opportunities ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN brewing ) ( NN property ) ( CC and ) ( NN energy ) ( NNS resources ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN extent ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ consistent ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ dominant ) ( NN objective ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ manageable ) ( JJ debt-to-assets ) ( NNS ratios ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It said it will look at opportunities in brewing property and energy resources to the extent consistent with the dominant objective of manageable debt-to-assets ratios


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN result ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( ADVP ( RB ultimately ) ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB very ) ( JJ different ) ) ( NN group ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN size ) ( CC and ) ( NN structure ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NNS directors ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN statement ) ) ) ) )

The result will ultimately be a very different group in size and structure Bond Corp. directors said in a statement


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP contend ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ total ) ( NNS writeoffs ) ) ( VP ( MD should ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB much ) ( JJR greater ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS auditors ) ) ( VP ( VBD cited ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN list ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ several ) ( NNS assets ) ( CC and ) ( VBZ deals ) ) ( SBAR ( WHPP-1 ( IN about ) ( WHNP ( WDT which ) ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( EX there ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( NN uncertainty ) ) ( VP ( VBG regarding ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ current ) ( NN value ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ potential ) ( NN impact ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN firm ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some analysts contend the total writeoffs should have been much greater and Bond Corp. 's auditors cited a list of several assets and deals about which there is uncertainty regarding the current value and potential impact on the firm


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Bond ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ acknowledged ) ( NNS losses ) ) ( VP ( VBP mean ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ net ) ( NN asset ) ( NN backing ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( PP-PRD ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN red ) ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN tune ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 53 ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( FW vs. ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ positive ) ( NN asset ) ( NN backing ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 1.92 ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Bond Corp. said the acknowledged losses mean net asset backing is in the red to the tune of 53 Australian cents a share vs. positive asset backing of 1.92 a share a year ago


( S-1 ( ADVP ( RB Still ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS directors ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG Having ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB fully ) ) ( VBN considered ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT all ) ( NNS aspects ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN state ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS affairs ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ future ) ( NN cash ) ( NNS flows ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NNS directors ) ) ( VP ( VBP confirm ) ( ADVP ( RB absolutely ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ solvent ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Still the directors said Having fully considered all aspects of the company 's state of affairs and future cash flows the directors confirm absolutely that the company is solvent


( S ( ADVP ( RB Indeed ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN note ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS results ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS directors ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ true ) ( NN worth ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN group ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS assets ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NN account ) ) ) ( PP ( RB instead ) ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( NN book ) ( NNS values ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ negative ) ( NN net ) ( NN asset ) ) ( VP ( VBG backing ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB turn ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ substantial ) ( JJ positive ) ( NN one ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Indeed in a note to the results directors said if the true worth of some of the group 's assets were taken into account instead of using book values the negative net asset backing a share would turn into a substantial positive one


( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Financial ) ( NN printer ) ( NNP Bowne ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD formed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN business ) ( NN translation ) ( NN service ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( NP ( JJ legal ) ( JJ financial ) ( CC and ) ( JJ other ) ( NNS services ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJS most ) ( JJ major ) ( NNS languages ) ) ( PP ( VBG including ) ( NP ( NNP Japanese ) ( NNP Chinese ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Russian ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Financial printer Bowne & Co. said it formed a business translation service which will provide legal financial and other services in most major languages including Japanese Chinese and Russian


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Ekco ) ( NNP Group ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NP ( NNP Nashua ) ) ( NP ( NNP N.H. ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB report ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ third ) ( NN quarter ) ) ( VP ( VBN ended ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 1 ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD fell ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 50 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 60 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 11 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ekco Group Inc. Nashua N.H. expects to report that net income in the third quarter ended Oct. 1 fell 50 % to 60 % from 2.1 million or 11 cents a share a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Robert ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( NP ( NN president ) ( CC and ) ( JJ chief ) ( NN executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD attributed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ expected ) ( NN decline ) ) ( PP-CLR ( ADVP ( RB partly ) ) ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS effects ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ two-week ) ( NN strike ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Masillon ) ( NNP Ohio ) ) ( NN bakeware ) ( NN facility ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Robert Stein president and chief executive officer attributed the expected decline partly to the effects of a two-week strike last month at the company 's Masillon Ohio bakeware facility


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Softer-than-expected ) ( NNS orders ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ early ) ( NNP September ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBD played ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN role ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN interview ) ) ) ) )

Softer-than-expected orders in early September also played a role he said in an interview


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB reasonably ) ( JJ confident ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS earnings ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ full ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB exceed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( QP ( CD 3.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 17 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Mr. Stein said he is reasonably confident that earnings for the full year will exceed the 3.1 million or 17 cents a share in 1988


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT That ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB require ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ fourth-quarter ) ( NN net ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( IN about ) ( CD 22 ) ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 24 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG assuming ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( NN estimate ) ) ( VP ( VBZ proves ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ accurate ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

That would require fourth-quarter net of more than about 22 cents to 24 cents a share assuming that Mr. Stein 's third-quarter estimate proves accurate


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN In ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( JJ fourth ) ( NN quarter ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( NN profit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 2.7 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 15 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In the year-earlier fourth quarter the company had profit of 2.7 million or 15 cents a share


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( JJ Third-quarter ) ( NN revenue ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN expected ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( NP-PRD ( QP ( CD 40 ) ( CD million ) ( TO to ) ( CD 45 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB up ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 38.2 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBG according ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Neil ) ( NNP Gordon ) ) ( NP ( NN treasurer ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Third-quarter revenue is expected to be 40 million to 45 million up from 38.2 million a year earlier according to Neil Gordon treasurer


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( JJ year-earlier ) ( NNS periods ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP do ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB reflect ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS results ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Woodstream ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NN unit ) ) ( VP ( VBN acquired ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NNP January ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBP include ) ( NP ( NP ( DT some ) ( JJ Canadian ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN sold ) ( PP-TMP ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 1988 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The year-earlier periods do n't reflect results of the company 's Woodstream Corp. unit acquired last January but include some Canadian operations that were sold at the end of 1988


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP August ) ) ( PP ( IN through ) ( NP ( NNP October ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB traditionally ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJS busiest ) ( NN season ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bakeware ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ many ) ( NNS retailers ) ) ( VP ( VBP use ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS goods ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NN autumn ) ( JJ promotional ) ( NNS items ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

August through October traditionally is the busiest season for the bakeware business as many retailers use the goods as autumn promotional items


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( DT some ) ( NNS retailers ) ) ( PRN ( ADJP ( RB perhaps ) ( JJ anxious ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG minimizing ) ( NP ( NNS inventories ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP appear ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN held ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB back ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNS orders ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP September ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG ordering ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RBR more ) ( RB heavily ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP October ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Stein said some retailers perhaps anxious about minimizing inventories appear to have held back on orders in September but have been ordering more heavily in October


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Woodstream ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB marginally ) ( JJ profitable ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VBN performed ) ( ADVP ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ) ( SBAR ( IN as ) ( S ( VP ( VBN expected ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Stein said Woodstream is marginally profitable but has n't performed as well as expected


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Woodstream ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NX ( NX ( JJ Victor-brand ) ( NNS mousetraps ) ) ( CC and ) ( NX ( JJ other ) ( JJ pest-control ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB very ) ( RB well ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ plastic ) ( NN storage-case ) ( NNS products ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN poised ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN growth ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Woodstream 's Victor-brand mousetraps and other pest-control products are doing very well and its plastic storage-case products are poised for growth he said


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN unit ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ third ) ( NN segment ) ) ( NP ( NN wildlife ) ( NNS traps ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG suffering ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ depressed ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Ekco ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG seeking ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN segment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

But the unit 's third segment wildlife traps is suffering from a depressed market and Ekco is seeking to sell that segment he said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( ADJP ( JJR higher ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1990 ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD 1989 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG reflecting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS measures ) ) ( VP ( VBN taken ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN acquisition ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Ekco ) ( NNPS Housewares ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ late ) ( CD 1987 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Stein said he expects profit to be higher in 1990 than in 1989 reflecting a number of measures taken since the acquisition of Ekco Housewares in late 1987


( S ( S ( PP ( RB Prior ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG acquiring ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS housewares ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Centronics ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Centronics ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN computer ) ( NNS printers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS officers ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD decided ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sell ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN business ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJ Japanese ) ( NNS competitors ) ) ( VP ( VBD grabbed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ dominant ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Prior to acquiring the housewares business the company was known as Centronics Corp. Centronics had been a maker of computer printers but Mr. Stein and other officers decided to sell that business after Japanese competitors grabbed a dominant share of the market


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( JJR tighter ) ( NN operating ) ( NNS controls ) ) ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN enabled ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ekco ) ) ( VP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VP ( VB reduce ) ( NP ( NN inventory ) ( NNS levels ) ) ( NP-EXT ( QP ( CD 25 ) ( NN % ) ( TO to ) ( CD 30 ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB improve ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ on-time ) ( NN delivery ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNS orders ) ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 95 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( QP ( IN around ) ( CD 70 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB lower ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN number ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NN labor ) ( NNS hours ) ) ( VP ( VBN required ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB produce ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN unit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Stein said tighter operating controls have enabled Ekco to reduce inventory levels 25 % to 30 % improve on-time delivery of orders to about 95 % from around 70 % and to lower the number of labor hours required to produce a unit


( S ( S-TPC-3 ( PP ( IN By ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG moving ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN design ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-DIR ( JJ in-house ) ) ) ) ( PRN ( PP ( RB instead ) ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG contracting ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN work ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-4 ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS designs ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD can ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN manufactured ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RBR more ) ( RB efficiently ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

By moving the design of new products in-house instead of contracting out the work the company also has been able to come up with designs that can be manufactured more efficiently he said


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT those ) ( NNS measures ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD spent ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB heavily ) ) ( NP-TMP ( RBR earlier ) ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB install ) ( NP ( NNS displays ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS customers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( JJ retail ) ( NNS outlets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-ADV ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN strategy ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( IN that ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN helped ) ( S ( VP ( VB bolster ) ( NP ( NP ( NN awareness ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS brands ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition to those measures the company spent heavily earlier this year to install displays at its customers ' retail outlets a strategy that Mr. Stein said has helped bolster awareness of the company 's brands


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Ekco ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS housewares ) ( NN operation ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( NP ( NP ( NN kitchen ) ( NNS tools ) ( CC and ) ( NNS gadgets ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( NP ( NN bakeware ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS factories ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Canada ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ekco 's housewares operation makes kitchen tools and gadgets as well as bakeware at factories in the U.S. and Canada


( S ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( JJ main ) ( NN issue ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN strike ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Ohio ) ( NN facility ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NN health-care ) ( NNS benefits ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

The main issue in the strike at the Ohio facility was health-care benefits Mr. Stein said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN strike ) ) ( VP ( VBD ended ) ( NP-TMP-CLR ( NNP Oct ) ) ) )

The strike ended Oct


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Ekco ) ) ( VP ( VBZ continues ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB seek ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ further ) ( NNS acquisitions ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ consumer-products ) ( NN industry ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Stein ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

Ekco continues to seek further acquisitions in the consumer-products industry Mr. Stein said


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD indicated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Ekco ) ) ( VP ( MD may ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ interested ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG acquiring ) ( NP ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN company ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN range ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 75 ) ( CD million ) ( TO to ) ( CD 100 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( RB partly ) ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NN mass ) ( NNS merchandisers ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB increasingly ) ) ( VBP want ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB rely ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( ADJP ( JJR larger ) ( CC and ) ( JJR fewer ) ) ( NNS suppliers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He indicated that Ekco may be interested in acquiring another company with revenue in the range of 75 million to 100 million partly because mass merchandisers increasingly want to rely on larger and fewer suppliers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Arizona ) ( NNP Instrument ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB post ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ third-quarter ) ( JJ net ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 600,000 ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 25 ) ( NNS cents ) ( TO to ) ( CD 27 ) ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( VBN compared ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ net ) ( NN income ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( CD 214,000 ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 10 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Arizona Instrument Corp. said it expects to post a third-quarter net loss of about 600,000 or 25 cents to 27 cents a share compared with net income of 214,000 or 10 cents a share a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NAC-LOC ( NNP Tempe ) ( NNP Ariz. ) ) ( NN maker ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( JJ underground ) ( NN fuel-storage ) ( NNS systems ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( RBS most ) ( JJ recent ) ( NN period ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN affected ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NP ( NP ( NNS customers ) ( POS ' ) ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG complying ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ recent ) ( NNP Environmental ) ( NNP Protection ) ( NNP Agency ) ( NNS regulations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Tempe Ariz. maker of underground fuel-storage systems said the most recent period was affected by customers ' problems complying with recent Environmental Protection Agency regulations


( S ( PP-TMP ( IN For ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( CD nine ) ( NNS months ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ expects ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB post ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ net ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 879,000 ) ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 35 ) ( NNS cents ) ( TO to ) ( CD 40 ) ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 6.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

For the nine months the company expects to post a net loss of about 879,000 or 35 cents to 40 cents a share on revenue of 6.5 million


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT A ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 199,203 ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( NP ( CD nine ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( NP-ADV ( DT a ) ( NN share ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NN revenue ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 7.6 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A year earlier it had a loss of 199,203 or nine cents a share on revenue of 7.6 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP France ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ national ) ( NN tobacco ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG making ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ brown-tobacco ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Gauloises ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Gitanes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG branching ) ( PRT ( RP out ) ) ) ) )

France 's national tobacco company known for making brown-tobacco cigarettes such as Gauloises and Gitanes is branching out


( S ( S-ADV ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ Concerned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( VBG dipping ) ( NN demand ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ traditional ) ( NNS products ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG moving ) ( PP-DIR ( CONJP ( RB not ) ( RB only ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( JJ blonde ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ) ( CONJP ( CC but ) ( RB also ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ electronic ) ( JJ car-parking ) ( NN payment ) ( NNS cards ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN sold ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN neighborhood ) ( NN tobacco ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Concerned by dipping demand for its traditional products it is moving not only into blonde cigarettes but also into electronic car-parking payment cards to be sold in neighborhood tobacco stores


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Brown ) ( NN tobacco ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP France ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RBR more ) ( JJ pungent ) ) ( ADJP ( JJR stronger ) ) ( NN grade ) ) ( PP ( IN than ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJR lighter ) ( NN grade ) ) ( CC or ) ( NP ( JJ blonde ) ( NN tobacco ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ so-called ) ( JJ American-style ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brown tobacco in France is a more pungent stronger grade than the lighter grade or blonde tobacco used in so-called American-style cigarettes


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP Philip ) ( NNP Morris ) ( NNPS Cos. ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Bertrand ) ( FW de ) ( NNP Galle ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ government-owned ) ( NNP Societe ) ( NNP Nationale ) ( NNP d'Exploitation ) ( NNP Industrielle ) ( FW des ) ( NNP Tabacs ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Allumettes ) ( NNP S.A. ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBN known ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Seita ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We are n't Philip Morris Cos. says Bertrand de Galle chairman of government-owned Societe Nationale d'Exploitation Industrielle des Tabacs & Allumettes S.A. known as Seita


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBZ says ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Seita ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS profits ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBN limited ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ government-controlled ) ( NN cigarette ) ( NNS prices ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN cash ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB diversify ) ( ADVP ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( RB heavily ) ) ) ( PP ( IN into ) ( NP ( NN food ) ( CC and ) ( NN drink ) ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN concern ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN done ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He says that because Seita 's profits are limited by government-controlled cigarette prices he does n't have the cash to diversify as heavily into food and drink as the U.S. concern has done


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN year ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN example ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Seita ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ net ) ( NN profit ) ) ( VP ( VBD soared ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 150 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 461.6 ) ( CD million ) ) ( JJ French ) ( NNS francs ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 73.5 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS sales ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( SYM FFr ) ( CD 27.68 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( CD 1.7 ) ( NN % ) ) ( NN profit ) ( NN margin ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last year for example Seita 's net profit soared 150 % to 461.6 million French francs 73.5 million on sales of FFr 27.68 billion a 1.7 % profit margin


( S ( ADVP ( RB Instead ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN interview ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG looking ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS ways ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB exploit ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP France ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN network ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( CD 39,000 ) ( NN tobacco ) ( NNS agents ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJS most ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ( NP-PRD ( NNS cafes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Instead he said in an interview he is looking for ways to exploit France 's network of 39,000 tobacco agents most of them cafes


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Seita ) ) ( VP ( VBZ does ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB own ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ French ) ( NNS tabacs ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ close ) ( NN alliance ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( PRP them ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ offers ) ( NP ( NN distribution ) ( NNS possibilities ) ) ) )

While Seita does n't own the French tabacs its close alliance with them offers distribution possibilities


( S ( NP-SBJ ( CD One ) ( NN proposal ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB introduce ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN payment ) ( NN system ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN parking ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Paris ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

One proposal is to introduce a new payment system for parking in Paris


( S ( PP ( RB Instead ) ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG paying ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN parking ) ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG putting ) ( NP ( NN money ) ) ( PP-PUT ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG existing ) ( NNS machines ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP deliver ) ( NP ( JJ little ) ( NN paper ) ( NNS receipts ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNS drivers ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ able ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( JJ electronic ) ( NNS cards ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ local ) ( NN tobacco ) ( NNS shops ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Instead of paying for parking by putting money in the existing machines which deliver little paper receipts drivers would be able to buy electronic cards in local tobacco shops


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( RB Once ) ( S ( VP ( VBN activated ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT the ) ( NN card ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB sit ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN car ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN window ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG showing ) ( NP ( NN traffic ) ( NNS wardens ) ) ( SBAR-NOM ( WHNP-1 ( WHADVP ( WRB how ) ( JJ much ) ) ( NN time ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN motorist ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB remain ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Once activated the card would sit in the car 's window showing traffic wardens how much time the motorist could remain


( S ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB When ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN motorist ) ) ( VP ( VBD returned ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN car ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB turn ) ( NP-PRD ( DT the ) ( NN card ) ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD showed ) ( NP ( NN time ) ( VBG remaining ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VB save ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( RB later ) ) ) ) ) ) )

When the motorist returned to his car he could turn the card off and if it showed time remaining save it for later


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Seita ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN partner ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN project ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN developed ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Matra ) ( NNP SA ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( VBG using ) ( NP ( JJ Japanese ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Seita is a partner in the project which was developed by Matra SA using Japanese technology


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Seita ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Matra ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG negotiating ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NN city ) ( NNS officials ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN right ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB begin ) ( NP ( NN service ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Seita and Matra currently are negotiating with city officials for the right to begin service


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Seita ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG considering ) ( NP ( JJ further ) ( NN diversification ) ) ) ) )

And Seita is considering further diversification


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD wanted ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP RJR ) ( NNP Nabisco ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ French ) ( NN cracker ) ( NN subsidiary ) ) ( NP-LOC ( NNP Belin ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS hopes ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG selling ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS products ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN tobacco ) ( NNS stores ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bidding ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NN food ) ( NN group ) ( NNP BSN ) ( NNP SA ) ) ) ) ) )

It wanted to buy RJR Nabisco Inc. 's French cracker subsidiary Belin in hopes of selling its products in tobacco stores but lost the bidding to food group BSN SA


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG considering ) ( S ( VP ( VBG bidding ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Swedish ) ( NNP Match ) ( NNP Co ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It currently is considering bidding for Swedish Match Co


( S ( CC And ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ retains ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN interest ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG acquiring ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNS candies ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS articles ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN sold ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN tobacco ) ( NNS shops ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

And it retains an interest in acquiring candies and other articles that might be sold in tobacco shops


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP It ) ) ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG trying ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB shore ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN tobacco ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It also is trying to shore up its tobacco business


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( JJ Brown-tobacco ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ( PP ( JJ such ) ( IN as ) ( NP ( NNP Gauloises ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBP make ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( RB just ) ( CD 40 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ French ) ( NN tobacco ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ( NP ( NP ( PDT half ) ( DT the ) ( NN level ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( IN about ) ( CD two ) ( NNS decades ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB ago ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Brown-tobacco cigarettes such as Gauloises now make up just 40 % of the French tobacco market half the level of about two decades ago


( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN While ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Seita ) ) ( VP ( VBZ retains ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN manufacturing ) ( NN monopoly ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP France ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG being ) ( VP ( VBN hurt ) ( PP ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( VBG rising ) ( NNS imports ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( VBG waning ) ( NN cigarette ) ( NN demand ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

While Seita retains a manufacturing monopoly in France it is being hurt by rising imports and from waning cigarette demand


( S ( ADVP ( RB So ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Seita ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN introduced ) ( NP ( JJ blonde ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Gauloises ) ( NN label ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBZ intends ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB relaunch ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ unsuccessful ) ( NNP Gitanes ) ( NNPS Blondes ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ new ) ( NN packaging ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ similar ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS slide-packs ) ) ( VP ( VBN used ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( JJ brown-tobacco ) ( NNP Gitanes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So Seita has introduced blonde cigarettes under the Gauloises label and intends to relaunch the unsuccessful Gitanes Blondes in new packaging similar to the slide-packs used by brown-tobacco Gitanes


( S-2 ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN aim ) ) ( PRN ( SINV ( VP ( VBZ says ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( FW de ) ( NNP Galle ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S-PRD ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB win ) ( NP ( NN market ) ( NN share ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN from ) ( NP ( VBN imported ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB persuade ) ( NP ( NP-4 ( NNS smokers ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG switching ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( JJ blonde ) ( NNS cigarettes ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB keep ) ( S ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( ADVP-CLR ( JJ French ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The aim says Mr. de Galle is to win market share from imported cigarettes and to persuade smokers who are switching to blonde cigarettes to keep buying French


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ( NNP Ltd. ) ) ( VP ( VBD encountered ) ( NP ( DT another ) ( NN setback ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Los ) ( JJ Angeles-based ) ( NN affiliate ) ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD filed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( NN protection ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( NN Chapter ) ( CD 11 ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NNP Bankruptcy ) ( NNP Code ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex Australia Ltd. encountered another setback Friday when its Los Angeles-based affiliate Qintex Entertainment Inc. filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP David ) ( NNP Evans ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN president ) ( CC and ) ( JJ chief ) ( NN executive ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Roger ) ( NNP Kimmel ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN director ) ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( DT both ) ) ( VP ( VBD resigned ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex Entertainment also said David Evans its president and chief executive and Roger Kimmel a director both resigned


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT Neither ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN reached ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN comment ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Neither could be reached for comment


( S ( NP-TMP ( RBR Earlier ) ( DT this ) ( NN month ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 1.5 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( NN agreement ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB acquire ) ( NP ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ( NNPS Communications ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD collapsed ) ( PP-PRP ( IN because ) ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN dispute ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 50 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN letter ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN credit ) ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NN operator ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN television ) ( NNS stations ) ( CC and ) ( NNS resorts ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( S-PRD ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN supplied ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NN security ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN transaction ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Earlier this month Qintex Australia 's 1.5 billion agreement to acquire MGM\/UA Communications Co. collapsed because of a dispute over a 50 million letter of credit the Australian operator of television stations and resorts was to have supplied as security in the transaction


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Evans ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ de ) ( JJ facto ) ( NN head ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNS months ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Evans had been the de facto head of MGM\/UA for months


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN producer ) ( CC and ) ( NN distributor ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN television ) ( NNS programs ) ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RBS most ) ) ( VBN noted ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN co-production ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN hit ) ( NN miniseries ) ) ( NP-TTL ( JJ Lonesome ) ( NN Dove ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD filed ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN Chapter ) ( CD 11 ) ( NN protection ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ( VP ( VBD failed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB provide ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 5.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( VP ( VBN owed ) ( PP-DTV ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP MCA ) ( NNP Inc. ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN connection ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN distribution ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( JJ New ) ( NAC-TTL ( S-TTL ( VP ( VB Leave ) ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Beaver ) ) ) ) ) ( NN Show ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex Entertainment a producer and distributor of television programs most noted for its co-production of the hit miniseries Lonesome Dove said it filed for Chapter 11 protection after Qintex Australia failed to provide it with 5.9 million owed to MCA Inc. in connection with the distribution of The New Leave It to Beaver Show


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( NP-EXT ( CD 43 ) ( NN % ) ) ( VBN owned ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBZ relies ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Australian ) ( NN company ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG funding ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN working ) ( NN capital ) ( NNS requirements ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex Entertainment is 43 % owned by Qintex Australia and said it relies on the Australian company for funding its working capital requirements


( S ( PP ( IN After ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN announcement ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bankruptcy ) ( NN filing ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBD sank ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 2.625 ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( JJ over-the-counter ) ( NN trading ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB close ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( NP ( CD 1.50 ) ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ heavy ) ( NN volume ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 1.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

After the announcement of the bankruptcy filing Qintex Entertainment stock sank 2.625 in over-the-counter trading to close at 1.50 on heavy volume of more than 1.4 million shares


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN stock ) ) ( VP ( VBD traded ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( RB as ) ( JJ high ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( CD 10 ) ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( DT this ) ( JJ past ) ( NN summer ) ) ) )

The stock traded as high as 10 this past summer


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jonathan ) ( NNP Lloyd ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NN executive ) ( NN vice ) ( NN president ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( JJ financial ) ( NN officer ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN forced ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB file ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN protection ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB avoid ) ( S ( VP ( VBG going ) ( PP-CLR ( IN into ) ( NP ( NN default ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP MCA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Jonathan Lloyd executive vice president and chief financial officer of Qintex Entertainment said Qintex Entertainment was forced to file for protection to avoid going into default under its agreement with MCA


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 5.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN payment ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ due ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 1 ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN deadline ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NN default ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 19 ) ) ) ) )

The 5.9 million payment was due Oct. 1 and the deadline for default was Oct. 19


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lloyd ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( S ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN defaulted ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN required ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB repay ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 92 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NN debt ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN under ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN loan ) ( NNS agreements ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Lloyd said if Qintex had defaulted it could have been required to repay 92 million in debt under its loan agreements


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP MCA ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( PP-PRP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN result ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN failure ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ required ) ( NN payment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG terminating ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN distribution ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP-TTL ( DT The ) ( JJ New ) ( S-TTL ( VP ( VB Leave ) ( NP ( PRP It ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Beaver ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CONJP ( RB as ) ( RB well ) ( IN as ) ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNP MCA ) ( NNS properties ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

MCA on Friday said that as a result of Qintex 's failure to make the required payment it was terminating the distribution agreement on The New Leave It to Beaver as well as other MCA properties


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG saying ) ( ADVP-TMP ( ADVP ( RB as ) ( RB recently ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NN weekend ) ) ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP-CLR ( VB care ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN situation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex Australia was saying as recently as last weekend that they would take care of the situation


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP They ) ) ( VP ( VBD continued ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB represent ) ( NP ( IN that ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN board ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lloyd ) ) )

They continued to represent that to the board said Mr. Lloyd


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP We ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN reassured ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB stand ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN behind ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

We were reassured they would stand behind the company


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Lloyd ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-3 ( DT both ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN attempted ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB secure ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN loan ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 5.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ( NN payment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC but ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN request ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN turned ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB down ) ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( DT an ) ( JJ unidentified ) ( NN lender ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN on ) ( NP ( NNP Oct. ) ( CD 14 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Lloyd said both Qintex Entertainment and Qintex Australia had attempted to secure a loan that would allow the company to make the 5.9 million payment but the request was turned down by an unidentified lender on Oct. 14


( S-1 ( PP-TMP ( IN At ) ( NP ( DT that ) ( NN point ) ) ) ( PRN ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ( VP ( VBD stated ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB endeavor ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB arrange ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN financing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

At that point he said Qintex Australia stated it would endeavor to arrange the financing


( S ( ADVP ( WRB However ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT a ) ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP$ his ) ( NN firm ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB never ) ) ( VP ( VBN promised ) ( CC or ) ( VBN guaranteed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN payment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

However a Qintex Australia spokesman said his firm had never promised or guaranteed to make the payment


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ prepared ) ( NN statement ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NNP Australia ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB also ) ) ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( PP-TMP ( VBG following ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN breakdown ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP MGM ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBG re-evaluating ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN position ) ) ( PP ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ significant ) ( NN shareholder ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ substantial ) ( NN creditor ) ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN resolved ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB minimize ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN degree ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ further ) ( NNS loans ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NN excess ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT that ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB previously ) ) ( VBN made ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In a prepared statement from Australia the company also said that following the breakdown of the MGM talks it had been re-evaluating its position as a significant shareholder and a substantial creditor of Qintex Entertainment and had resolved to minimize the degree of further loans to Qintex Entertainment in excess of that previously made


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD added ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN opposed ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN Chapter ) ( CD 11 ) ( NN filing ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The Qintex Australia spokesman added that his company had opposed the Chapter 11 filing


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP He ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD believed ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ financial ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( VP ( VBN been ) ( VP ( VBN resolved ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS means ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

He said the company believed Qintex Entertainment 's financial problems could have been resolved by other means


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN report ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN bankruptcy ) ( NN filing ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD stunned ) ( NP ( NNP Hollywood ) ( NNS executives ) ( CC and ) ( NNS investors ) ) ) )

The report of the bankruptcy filing stunned Hollywood executives and investors


( SINV ( S-TPC-2 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( NP-PRD ( DT a ) ( NN shocker ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Joseph ) ( NNP Di ) ( NNP Lillo ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Drake ) ( NNP Capital ) ( NNPS Securities ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN brokerage ) ( NN firm ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN investment ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Entertainment ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's a shocker said Joseph Di Lillo chairman of Drake Capital Securities a brokerage firm that has an investment in Qintex Entertainment


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBG going ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB pay ) ( NP ( QP ( JJR more ) ( IN than ) ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB then ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB come ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RB far ) ( JJR smaller ) ) ( NN sum ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 5.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex Australia was going to pay more than 1 billion for MGM\/UA and then they could n't come up with the far smaller sum of 5.9 million


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Qintex ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Evans ) ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ former ) ( NN president ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD resigned ) ( PP-PRP ( IN for ) ( NP ( JJ personal ) ( NNS reasons ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Kimmel ) ) ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN attorney ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD resigned ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN because ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP$ his ) ( NN participation ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG evaluating ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN role ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG buying ) ( NP ( NN MGM\/UA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB no ) ( RB longer ) ( JJ necessary ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Qintex said Mr. Evans the former president resigned for personal reasons and that Mr. Kimmel an attorney resigned because his participation in evaluating the company 's role in buying MGM\/UA was no longer necessary


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Mr. ) ( NNP Kimmel ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN director ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN predecessor ) ( NN firm ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN since ) ( NP ( CD 1980 ) ) ) ) )

Mr. Kimmel was a director of the company and a predecessor firm since 1980


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( DT The ) ( NN announcement ) ) ( VP ( VBD seemed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB further ) ) ( VB damp ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS prospects ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNS talks ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Qintex ) ( NNP Australia ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD might ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( VP ( VBN revived ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The announcement seemed to further damp prospects that talks between Qintex Australia and MGM\/UA might be revived


( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ 's ) ( VP ( VBN understood ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP MGM\/UA ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB recently ) ) ( VP ( VBD contacted ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Rupert ) ( NNP Murdoch ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP News ) ( NNP Corp. ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD made ) ( NP ( NP ( CD two ) ( VBN failed ) ( NNS bids ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN movie ) ( NN studio ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB see ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN if ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB still ) ( JJ interested ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It 's understood that MGM\/UA recently contacted Rupert Murdoch 's News Corp. which made two failed bids for the movie studio to see if the company was still interested


( S ( ADVP ( RB However ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBP are ) ( RB n't ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB currently ) ) ( VP ( VBG doing ) ( NP ( NN anything ) ) ) ) )

However we are n't currently doing anything


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( PRP It ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ current ) ( NN topic ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN conversation ) ) ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Barry ) ( NNP Diller ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NN chairman ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( JJ chief ) ( NN executive ) ( NN officer ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Fox ) ( NNP Inc. ) ( NN unit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP News ) ( NNP Corp ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

It is n't a current topic of conversation at the company said Barry Diller chairman and chief executive officer of the Fox Inc. unit of News Corp


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Ford ) ( NNP Motor ) ( NNP Co. ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Saab-Scania ) ( NNP AB ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NNP Sweden ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD broke ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS talks ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ possible ) ( NN alliance ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN after ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBD concluded ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN cost ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB modernize ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Saab ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN car ) ( NNS operations ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB outweigh ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ likely ) ( NN return ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ford Motor Co. and Saab-Scania AB of Sweden broke off talks about a possible alliance after Ford officials concluded that the cost to modernize Saab 's car operations would outweigh the likely return


( S ( PP ( IN With ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN collapse ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( JJ European ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB intensify ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN pursuit ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ British ) ( NN luxury ) ( NN car ) ( NN maker ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NNP PLC ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG scrambling ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB fend ) ( PRT ( RP off ) ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ hostile ) ( NNP Ford ) ( NN bid ) ) ( PP-MNR ( IN by ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG negotiating ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ friendly ) ( NN alliance ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Ford ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN archrival ) ) ( NP ( NNP General ) ( NNPS Motors ) ( NNP Corp ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

With the collapse of the talks Friday European analysts expect Ford to intensify its pursuit of British luxury car maker Jaguar PLC which is scrambling to fend off a hostile Ford bid by negotiating a friendly alliance with Ford 's archrival General Motors Corp


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NNP Saab ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB meanwhile ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN left ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN search ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN ally ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( NN shore ) ( PRT ( RP up ) ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( VBG sagging ) ( NN car ) ( NN business ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Saab meanwhile is left to continue its search for an ally to shore up its sagging car business


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Saab ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB continue ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-1 ( NP ( NNS contacts ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( JJ other ) ( NNS manufacturers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Saab said last week it has had and will continue to have contacts with other manufacturers


( S ( SINV-TPC-2 ( PP-TPC-LOC-PRD-1 ( IN Among ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ possible ) ( NNS suitors ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Italy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Fiat ) ( NNP S.p ) ( NNP A ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ) )

Among the possible suitors is Italy 's Fiat S.p A analysts said last week


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Ford ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Saab ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBD declined ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB elaborate ) ( ADVP-MNR ( RB publicly ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN announcement ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( SBAR-3 ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-4 ( PRP$ their ) ( NNS negotiations ) ) ( VP ( VBD failed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB yield ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN agreement ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( MD could ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( JJ long-term ) ( NN business ) ( NN sense ) ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NNS parties ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ford and Saab officials declined to elaborate publicly on the announcement Friday that their negotiations failed to yield an agreement that could make long-term business sense to both parties


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS Individuals ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ close ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Ford ) ( NN side ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS negotiations ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP-TMP ( RB late ) ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN No. ) ( CD 2 ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN auto ) ( NN maker ) ) ( VP ( VBD lost ) ( NP ( NN interest ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( IN as ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD became ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ clear ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ Swedish ) ( NN auto ) ( NN maker ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ automotive ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ little ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB offer ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN way ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NN image ) ( CC or ) ( NN technology ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Individuals close to the Ford side of the negotiations said late last week that the No. 2 U.S. auto maker lost interest as it became clear that the Swedish auto maker 's automotive operations had little to offer in the way of image or technology


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( ADVP ( RB originally ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN seen ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NNP Saab ) ( NN alliance ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN way ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB expand ) ( NP ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN presence ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( UCP ( JJ European ) ( CC and ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ( NN luxury ) ( NN car ) ( NNS markets ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Ford originally had seen a Saab alliance as a way to expand its presence in the European and U.S. luxury car markets


( S ( PP ( IN In ) ( NP ( NN addition ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Saab ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN discussed ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ possible ) ( NN link ) ) ( PP ( IN between ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( JJ heavy ) ( NN truck ) ( NNS operations ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In addition Ford and Saab had discussed a possible link between their heavy truck operations


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNS talks ) ) ( PP ( IN on ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ heavy ) ( NN truck ) ( NN alliance ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB apparently ) ) ( VP ( VBD did ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB go ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RB far ) ) ) ) )

But the talks on a heavy truck alliance apparently did n't go far


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT Some ) ( JJ European ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBD speculated ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNS officials ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Saab ) ( POS 's ) ) ( ADJP ( RB highly ) ( JJ profitable ) ) ( NNP Scania ) ( NN truck ) ( NN operation ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD balked ) ( PP-CLR ( IN at ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG surrendering ) ( NP ( NP ( DT any ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( PRP$ their ) ( NN autonomy ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Some European analysts speculated that officials of Saab 's highly profitable Scania truck operation balked at surrendering any of their autonomy


( S ( ADVP-TMP ( RB Meanwhile ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ( NNS officials ) ) ( VP ( VBD became ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ convinced ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( MD could ) ( RB n't ) ( VP ( VB expect ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB recover ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN investment ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB require ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Saab ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS cars ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ competitive ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( RB increasingly ) ( JJ crowded ) ( NN luxury ) ( NN market ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Meanwhile Ford officials became convinced they could n't expect to recover the investment it would require to make Saab 's cars competitive in the increasingly crowded luxury market


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( NP ( NNP Saab ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS problems ) ) ( VP ( VBD were ) ( VP ( VBN underscored ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-2 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBD announced ) ( SBAR ( DT that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ its ) ( NN car ) ( NN division ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NP ( ADJP ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 1.2 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNS kronor ) ) ( ADJP ( QP ( CD 186.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( NN loss ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD eight ) ( NNS months ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( RB slightly ) ( JJR worse ) ) ( SBAR ( IN than ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Saab-Scania ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN forecast ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ first-half ) ( NN report ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN month ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Saab 's problems were underscored Friday when the company announced that its car division had a 1.2 billion kronor 186.1 million loss during the first eight months of this year slightly worse than Saab-Scania had forecast in its first-half report last month


( S ( ADVP ( RB Overall ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( NNP Saab-Scania ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ pretax ) ( NN profit ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN during ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( CD eight ) ( NNS months ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN year ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD plunged ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 48.9 ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP-DIR ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1 ) ( CD billion ) ( JJ Swedish ) ) ( NNS kronor ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 155.1 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ) ( PP ( IN from ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( CD 1.96 ) ( CD billion ) ) ( NNS kronor ) ) ( NP ( QP ( CD 303.9 ) ( CD million ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN year ) ) ( RB earlier ) ) ) ) ) )

Overall Saab-Scania 's pretax profit during the first eight months of the year plunged 48.9 % to 1 billion Swedish kronor 155.1 million from 1.96 billion kronor 303.9 million a year earlier


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NN Industry ) ( NNS analysts ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( ADJP ( RBS most ) ( JJ likely ) ) ( NN suitor ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Saab ) ) ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB now ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( NP-PRD ( NNP Fiat ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Industry analysts in Europe said the most likely suitor for Saab now is Fiat


( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( NNP Saab ) ( CC and ) ( NNP Fiat ) ) ( VP ( VP ( VBP have ) ( VP ( VBN worked ) ( ADVP-CLR ( RB together ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN past ) ) ) ) ) ( S-ADV ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( CD one ) ( NN case ) ) ) ( VP ( VBG developing ) ( ADVP ( RB jointly ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ new ) ( NN auto ) ( NN chassis ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WDT that ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBD became ) ( NP-PRD ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN foundation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( NNP Saab ) ( POS 's ) ) ( CD 9000 ) ( NN model ) ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Fiat ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Croma ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP Lancia ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Thema ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Saab and Fiat have worked together in the past in one case developing jointly a new auto chassis that became the foundation of Saab 's 9000 model Fiat 's Croma and Lancia 's Thema


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN month ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Saab-Scania ) ( NNP Chief ) ( NNP Executive ) ( NNP Georg ) ( NNP Karnsund ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( PRP$ his ) ( NN company ) ) ( VP ( VBZ has ) ( VP ( VBN had ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS talks ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP Fiat ) ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJR broader ) ( NN alliance ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last month Saab-Scania Chief Executive Georg Karnsund said his company has had talks with Fiat about a broader alliance


( S ( S-TPC-2 ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNS talks ) ) ( VP ( VBD yielded ) ( NP ( NP ( NN nothing ) ) ( ADJP ( ADJP ( RB so ) ( JJ advanced ) ) ( SBAR ( IN that ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP we ) ) ( VP ( VBD needed ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB make ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ public ) ( NN announcement ) ) ( PP ( IN about ) ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( PRP he ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) )

But the talks yielded nothing so advanced that we needed to make a public announcement about it he said


( S ( PP ( IN As ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Ford ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Saab ) ( NN play ) ) ) ) ( VP ( MD will ) ( VP ( VB allow ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN auto ) ( NN maker ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB focus ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNS resources ) ) ( PP-LOC-CLR ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( VBG intensifying ) ( NN struggle ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP GM ) ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN stake ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Jaguar ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

As for Ford analysts expect the end of the Saab play will allow the U.S. auto maker to focus its resources on the intensifying struggle with GM for a stake in Jaguar


( SINV ( S-TPC-1 ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT The ) ( NN failure ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Saab ) ( NNS talks ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBZ makes ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( PRP it ) ) ) ( ADJP-PRD ( RB even ) ( RBR more ) ( JJ crucial ) ) ( SBAR-2 ( IN for ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB be ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ victorious ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NN contest ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Stephen ) ( NNP Reitman ) ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ European ) ( NN auto ) ( NN industry ) ( NN analyst ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN at ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP UBS-Phillips ) ( CC & ) ( NNP Drew ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP London ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The failure of the Saab talks makes it even more crucial for Ford to be victorious in the Jaguar contest said Stephen Reitman European auto industry analyst at UBS-Phillips & Drew in London


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( VP ( VBZ faces ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( JJ uphill ) ( NN fight ) ) ( PP ( IN for ) ( NP ( NNP Jaguar ) ) ) ) ( ADVP ( RB however ) ) ) )

Ford faces an uphill fight for Jaguar however


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NNS executives ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( NP-TMP ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( PRP they ) ) ( VP ( VBP expect ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB have ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ friendly ) ( NN alliance ) ) ( PP ( IN with ) ( NP ( NNP GM ) ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD wrapped ) ( PRT ( RB up ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN month ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Jaguar executives said last week they expect to have a friendly alliance with GM wrapped up by the end of the month


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP GM ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB meanwhile ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBG hosting ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN delegation ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NNS members ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP British ) ( NNP Parliament ) ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-1 ( WP who ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBP are ) ( VP ( VBG touring ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN auto ) ( NN maker ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ headquarter ) ( NNS operations ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NNP Detroit ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

GM meanwhile is hosting a delegation of members of the British Parliament who are touring the auto maker 's headquarter operations in Detroit


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT A ) ( NNP GM ) ( NN spokesman ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( NN visit ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( RB n't ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ connected ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NN situation ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

A GM spokesman said the visit is n't connected to the Jaguar situation


( S ( CC But ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( VP ( ADVP ( RB clearly ) ) ( VBZ views ) ( NP ( NNP Jaguar ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN prize ) ) ( PP ( JJ worth ) ( S-NOM ( VP ( VBG fighting ) ( PP ( IN for ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-PRP ( IN since ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN company ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ gilded ) ( NN brand ) ( NN image ) ) ( VP ( MD would ) ( VP ( VB give ) ( NP ( NNP Ford ) ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( ADJP ( RB badly ) ( JJ needed ) ) ( NN leg ) ( RB up ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ high ) ( NN end ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN luxury ) ( NNS markets ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT both ) ( NP ( NNP Europe ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

But Ford clearly views Jaguar as a prize worth fighting for since the company 's gilded brand image would give Ford a badly needed leg up in the high end of the luxury markets in both Europe and the U.S.


( S ( NP-TMP ( JJ Last ) ( NN week ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( VP ( VBD encountered ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN setback ) ) ( PP ( IN in ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN effort ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB broaden ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( NN luxury ) ( NNS offerings ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( SBAR-TMP ( WHADVP-1 ( WRB when ) ) ( S ( NP-SBJ-2 ( PRP it ) ) ( VP ( VBD was ) ( VP ( VBN forced ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB abandon ) ( NP ( DT a ) ( JJ four-year-old ) ( NN effort ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB market ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( JJ German-built ) ( NNP Scorpio ) ( NN sedan ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ) ) ( PP-CLR ( IN as ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN luxury ) ( NN import ) ) ( PP ( IN under ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Merkur ) ( NN brand ) ( NN name ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Last week Ford encountered a setback in its effort to broaden its U.S. luxury offerings when it was forced to abandon a four-year-old effort to market its German-built Scorpio sedan in the U.S. as a luxury import under the Merkur brand name


( S ( ADVP ( RB So ) ) ( PP ( IN despite ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ GM-Jaguar ) ( NN romance ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NNS analysts ) ) ( VP ( VBP say ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Ford ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN by ) ( NP ( JJ last ) ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD had ) ( VP ( VBN boosted ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NN holding ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( QP ( IN about ) ( CD 11 ) ) ( NN % ) ) ( PP ( IN of ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN luxury ) ( NN auto ) ( NN maker ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( ADJP ( JJ outstanding ) ) ) ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( IN from ) ( NP ( CD 10.4 ) ( NN % ) ) ( ADVP-TMP ( RB early ) ( JJ last ) ( NN week ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

So despite the GM-Jaguar romance analysts say Ford by last Friday had boosted its Jaguar holding to about 11 % of the luxury auto maker 's shares outstanding from 10.4 % early last week


( S ( S ( NP-SBJ ( QP ( IN About ) ( CD 5.4 ) ( CD million ) ) ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( VBD changed ) ( NP ( NNS hands ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( JJ active ) ( NN trading ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN on ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP London ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN stock ) ( NN exchange ) ) ) ( NP-TMP ( NNP Friday ) ) ) ) ) ) ( CC and ) ( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Jaguar ) ( NNS shares ) ) ( VP ( VBD moved ) ( ADVP-DIR ( RP up ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 19 ) ( NN pence ) ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( CD 696 ) ( NN pence ) ) ( NP ( CD 11 ) ) ) ) ) ) )

About 5.4 million Jaguar shares changed hands in active trading on London 's stock exchange Friday and Jaguar shares moved up 19 pence to 696 pence 11


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN On ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP U.S. ) ( JJ over-the-counter ) ( NN market ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NNP Jaguar ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ American ) ( NN depositary ) ( NNS receipts ) ) ( VP ( VBD rose ) ( NP-EXT ( CD 12.5 ) ( NNS cents ) ) ( PP-DIR ( TO to ) ( NP ( CD 11.125 ) ) ) ) )

On the U.S. over-the-counter market Jaguar 's American depositary receipts rose 12.5 cents to 11.125


( S ( NP-SBJ ( NNP Joann ) ( NNP S. ) ( NNP Lublin ) ) ( VP ( VBD contributed ) ( PP-CLR ( TO to ) ( NP ( DT this ) ( NN article ) ) ) ) )

Joann S. Lublin contributed to this article


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT a ) ( NN blow ) ) ( PP ( TO to ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP France ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NNP Rafale ) ( NN jet ) ( NN fighter ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( DT the ) ( JJ French ) ( NN navy ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN for ) ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ first ) ( NN time ) ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-MNR ( RB publicly ) ) ( VBD stated ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN desire ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( CD 15 ) ( NNP McDonnell ) ( NNP Douglas ) ( NNP Corp. ) ( NN F-18 ) ( NNPS Hornets ) ) ( S-PRP ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB defend ) ( NP ( PRP$ its ) ( NN aircraft ) ( NNS carriers ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In a blow to France 's Rafale jet fighter the French navy for the first time publicly stated its desire to buy 15 McDonnell Douglas Corp. F-18 Hornets to defend its aircraft carriers


( S ( NP-SBJ ( DT The ) ( NN statement ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( ADJP-PRD ( JJ likely ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB sharpen ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN debate ) ) ( PP ( IN within ) ( NP ( NP ( NNP France ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ military ) ( NN establishment ) ) ) ( PP ( IN over ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NNP Rafale ) ) ( SBAR ( WHNP-2 ( WDT which ) ) ( S ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( VP ( VBN made ) ( PP ( IN by ) ( NP-LGS ( NNP Avions ) ( NNP Marcel ) ( NNP Dassault-Breguet ) ( NNP Aviation ) ( NNP SA ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The statement is likely to sharpen the debate within France 's military establishment over the Rafale which is made by Avions Marcel Dassault-Breguet Aviation SA


( S ( PP-LOC ( IN In ) ( NP ( NP ( DT an ) ( NN interview ) ) ( PP-LOC ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN navy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( JJ official ) ( JJ weekly ) ( NN magazine ) ) ( NP ( NNP Cols ) ( NNP Bleus ) ) ) ) ) ) ( NP-SBJ ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( NN navy ) ( POS 's ) ) ( NN second-in-command ) ) ( NP ( NNP Adm. ) ( NNP Yves ) ( NNP Goupil ) ) ) ( VP ( VBD said ) ( SBAR ( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT the ) ( NN navy ) ) ( VP ( ADVP-TMP ( RB still ) ) ( VBZ intends ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB buy ) ( NP ( CD 86 ) ( NNPS Rafales ) ) ( SBAR-ADV ( IN as ) ( S ( VP ( VBN scheduled ) ) ) ) ( PP-TMP ( IN in ) ( NP ( NP ( DT the ) ( JJ late ) ( NNS 1990s ) ) ( CC and ) ( NP ( RB early ) ( CD 21st ) ( NN century ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

In an interview in the navy 's official weekly magazine Cols Bleus the navy 's second-in-command Adm. Yves Goupil said the navy still intends to buy 86 Rafales as scheduled in the late 1990s and early 21st century


( S ( NP-SBJ-1 ( DT The ) ( NN air ) ( NN force ) ) ( VP ( VBZ is ) ( S ( VP ( TO to ) ( VP ( VB take ) ( NP ( QP ( IN at ) ( JJS least ) ( CD 250 ) ) ( JJR more ) ) ) ) ) ) )

The air force is to take at least 250 more