narrowing the gap a little (but only a little) with the mighty Dentsu. They retain separate branding but some services are pooled. For example, Hakuhodo Media Partners handles the three agencies' media

it hopes to close the gap with the buyout of US #2 BodyArmor in 2022 in what is the group's biggest ever acquisition to-date. To match its rival's introduction of an associated vitamin-enriched water

which is keen to fill strategic gaps in its own national coverage. A straight combination of Comcast and TWC would almost certainly be blocked by regulators. However, Charter might offer to surrender

the sharp drop in stock markets has widened the gap between the two companies' valuations. Xerox's valuation has halved since February, making it now a sixth of HP's size rather than a third. Adbrands

There are also significant gaps in its non-spirits portfolio. Guinness is its only global beer and in 2015, Diageo agreed to divest virtually all of its small wine business, mostly to Treasury Wines Estates.

pressure from low price but stylish chain stores such as Gap and mass merchandisers led by Wal-Mart. Department stores, which were by far Claiborne's biggest customer base, were hardest hit and passed

bank's credit rating was slashed as a result of a gaping capital shortfall prompted by bad debts, mostly inherited through the acquisition of building society Britannia. To refinance the bank and avoid

of smaller rival Netto in 2010 helped to close the gap a little. The brutal competition on prices against discounters Aldi and Lidl took its toll on Asda more even than on its competitors in 2015, and

though Lenovo closed the gap slightly as a result of its newly minted joint venture with Fujitsu of Japan. Dell remains 3rd, while Apple showed the weakest year-on-year growth (of just 0.1%) in 4th place.

it concentrated on merely filling out gaps in its already broad coverage with highly selective purchases of niche players. Despite the lack of any major acquisitions, Omnicom's overall revenues continued