"It is an ordinary transaction," asserted a senior executive at one bank, asking not to be identified.

This afternoon, Lloyd's executives bitterly criticized those insurers and asserted that they would have no problems meeting their obligations.

Various cable operators, the executive asserted, want to preserve the monopolies that certain cable channels enjoy over particular types of programs.

More debatable is the treatment of a company whose senior executives assert that they have not participated in the crime.

Now, there often arise issues where there's a conflict between the legislature and the executive over an exercise of executive authority - asserted executive authority.

"Kids can tell the difference between fantasy and reality," these executives have repeatedly asserted.

But the cost cutting is going to be achieved with few layoffs, the executives asserted.

During questioning, Network Solutions' chief executive, Jim Rutt, asserted that his company owned the intellectual-property rights to the data base.

Moreover, academics and financial executives observing this trend assert that the critical ingredients for waging a successful campaign appear to be falling into place.

In the weapons industry, executives asserted that their companies were enforcing rigorous standards of conduct.