Honor Roll of the Most

Active Acquirers of 2000 47 Acquisitions General Electric Co. Acquisition Pattern: GE topped the list of the most active acquirers for the third successive year. The company’s blockbuster deal of 2000 – the $45 billion acquisition of Honeywell International, which will sharply expand GE’s aerospace business – was pending as the year ended and was slated for completion in 2001. The General Electric Capital financial services unit posted a major score by paying more than $2.3 billion to buy Toho Mutual Life in a major bulking up of financial services operations in Japan. Transportation systems offerings were widened with the $443 million acquisition of rail systems producer Harmon Industries, while GE’s other industrial arms were active in netting add-ons and fill-ins for the medical systems, power systems, and lighting businesses, among others. 30 Acquisitions Interpublic Group of Cos. Acquisition Pattern: One of a handful of large organizations pressing global consolidation in advertising and related industries. In 2000, the company added a long list of relatively small advertising, marketing, public relations, research, and related service firms to extend its reach both operationally and geographically. 25 Acquisitions Quanta Services Inc. Acquisition Pattern: A major consolidator in specialty electrical services, Quanta made the top 10 of the most active acquirers for the second straight year by continuing to bring regional providers into the fold. 24 Acquisitions Cisco Systems Co. Acquisition Pattern: The leader in network products and systems, Cisco long has pursued a strategy of building its diversity of offerings through acquisitions. A stepped-up pace of activity put it among the top 10 most active acquirers for the first time. 21 Acquisitions Black Box Corp. Acquisition Pattern: Using acquisitions to add capabilities, widen product lines, and extend geographically, worldwide technical network services provider Black Box is a newcomer to the rolls of the most active acquirers. 21 Acquisitions PSINet Inc. Acquisition Pattern: On the list for the second straight year, online service provider PSINet continued to focus on acquiring relatively small companies in the field on an international basis. 19 Acquisitions Citigroup Inc. Acquisition Pattern: The financial services giant added to its commercial banking, investment banking, and insurance operations while sharply growing its commercial and consumer finance business with the mega-acquisition of Associates First Capital. 19 Acquisitions Omnicom Group Inc. Acquisition Pattern: One of four advertising industry consolidators to be included among the 10 most active acquirers for 2000. The company found targets in advertising and related areas in several countries. 19 Acquisitions TMP Worldwide Inc. Acquisition Pattern: Another entry in the race to consolidate the advertising industry, as large providers want the size and the geographic spread to keep in step with clients’ movements around the globe. 19 Acquisitions True North Communications Inc. Acquisition Pattern: An advertising giant that acquired extensively in both traditional and online services. Honorable Mention 16 Acquisitions – Internet.com 14 Acquisitions -Clear Channel Communications 13 Acquisitions – Alcoa, General Motors, Tyco International 12 Acquisitions – Corning, MDU Resources Group, Nortel Networks, Wells Fargo 11 Acquisitions – AT&T, Aston IT Group, Broadcom, CHR PLC, Calpine, Duke Energy, Arthur J. Gallagher, Intel, SpectraSite 10 Acquisitions – CraftClick.com, Dovebid, El Paso Energy, Hilb Rogal & Hamilton, Lucent Technologies, Microsoft, Thermo Electron, Thomson Corp. Most Active Acquirers of 1999General Electric 43Sonic Automotive Inc. 27First American Financial Corp. 23Ford Motor Co. 22PSINet Inc. 22Quanta Services Inc. 22Century Business Systems Inc. 20Tyco International Ltd. 20Gerald Stevens Inc. 19VIA Net.works Inc. 19<\TBL>