"Many major firms have not signed at this time," said the brokerage executive who asked not to be named.

Mr. Brown said the firm had signed 1,700 contracts totaling $45 million since 1996.

A dominant firm cannot sign contracts with its distributors that require them to buy one product as a condition of getting another product.

Recently, de Groot's firm had signed a contract with a major hotel chain in the mid-Atlantic region.

During the mission, the firm signed a $2 million sales agreement to sell its cervical cancer testing products in China.

Mr. Smith's firm, as a matter of policy, does not sign such agreements.

Ms. Connors says her firm has kept its technology focus and is signing new clients.

The firm signed a lease in October 2000, but then backed out in 2002 after the Enron scandal.

On June 18, 1936, the firm recognized the union and signed a contract which provided wage increases and established a grievance procedure.

The firm recently signed a 10-year lease for 57,350 square feet, quadrupling its space in the building.