Mergers Fuel Jump In Name Changes

The number of American companies that changed names during the first half of 1996 was up 30 percent compared to the same period last year, a survey shows.

Mergers, acquisitions and restructurings accounted for most of the new corporate names, said the survey released Thursday by the identity consulting firm Anspach Grossman Enterprise.

The firm said there were 772 new corporate names in the first half of the year, up from 593 during the same period in 1995.

Financial sector companies such as banks, mutual funds and insurers accounted for the largest number of name changes at 204. Communications companies were second with 129, and manufacturers were third with 123.

Ranked by state, New York-based companies had the most name changes at 78, followed by California with 48 and Texas, 43.