"We better capitalize here because we just got lucky," Weathers remembered saying.

They positioned themselves to better capitalize on an improved economy.

But economists doubt that the region will experience the depression seen in the Southwest, since it has a more diversified economy and the banks and thrifts tend to be more conservative and better capitalized.

To better capitalize on the BunnyRanch brand name, he rechristened it BunnyRanch Two in 2004.

In their place came larger, better capitalized, mainly white and Asian businesses.

Mr. Semel said that over the next year, Yahoo would create search products, based on its acquisitions, that would better capitalize on its advantages over Google.

There could be additional positive consequences of a financially stronger Macy's, he said: "If Macy's is better capitalized, it becomes a stronger competitor.

And it has exclusive rights, in the discount arena, to products designed or endorsed by Martha Stewart, Disney and "Sesame Street" - names on which it could better capitalize.

Companies such as Konami, Capcom and Acclaim Entertainment derived many of their gaming ideas from two sources to better capitalize on the growing industry.

For instance, to better capitalize on the market for consumers her age, Ms. Krug suggested a somewhat radical solution for a company that considers tradition as important as the grapes that go into its bubbly.