"The surest way for a well-capitalized company to get complete exposure is to open up their own stores," he said.

"The opportunities for effecting the classic leveraged buyout restructuring is very unfavorable, with the well-capitalized companies now coming to the fore."

For decades, well-capitalized companies have been barred from affiliating with banks.

Only a few well-capitalized companies continued in business after this.

Now, a global emerging-markets fund will include no more than 100 large, well-capitalized companies from around the world.

One of the reasons General Electric is able to bid on this deal is that it is a sophisticated, well-capitalized company with deep pockets.

"The fact that some investment banking firms are owned by well-capitalized companies - Shearson by American Express, for example -gives the system stability."

Analysts suggest the best plays for investors may be well-capitalized companies in high-growth niche markets.

But some large, well-capitalized companies choose to remain on the over-the-counter market.

The new acquirers are usually large, well-capitalized companies offering cash or stock that make a successful deal more likely.