The company was prepared to continue using him for up to a year as a continuity announcer.

Most managers and their companies simply are not prepared to take such a high-profile position, he said.

To lower debt, the company is prepared to sell certain assets, these people said.

Still, the company is prepared, he said, to leave markets where it cannot make money.

For a variety of reasons, my company is not prepared to switch to his firm.

The company is prepared to make up the difference between what the fees bring and the center's expenses with money from the company's foundation.

But they also point out that the companies still standing may be better prepared to weather the storm.

The question is when companies will be prepared to act.

"It is difficult for older persons to learn new technologies, and few companies are prepared to give enough training," she said.

Expressions of interest were received, but no company was prepared to take this forward.