United Parcel Service announced the acquisition of seven transport companies, which it said would strengthen its operations in Europe and the Pacific.

The company has moved to strengthen its internal operations and restore confidence, replacing top managers and promising to install measures to police employees and practices.

To date, the Acumen Fund has been the recipient of Google.org's largest-single grant: $5 million to strengthen Acumen's operations.

This acquisition unified and strengthened Polk's North American operations and further enhanced the company's strategy to be a global information services provider.

The group will pay $500 million to buy out the stakes of the principal shareholders of Datek and invest another $200 million to strengthen its operations.

"Praxair's position as a world leader in industrial gases will strengthen CBI's global operations and present our employees with significant new opportunities."

Schneider said the purchase would strengthen its operations in building automation, an $11 billion dollar market with a growth rate averaging 6 percent a year.

Analysts said the move would strengthen the company's operations and increase its potential for growth.

We also made significant gains in strengthening and improving our operations and processes in fiscal year 2000.

The Pakistani military strengthened its operations against the Taliban and al-Qaida, who are blamed for the attacks.