Call it coincidence or not, but "poison pill" plans.

Call it coincidence or not, but "poison pill" plans, so popular as a means of foiling takeovers in the 1980s, were making news as Wells, Fargo & Co. pursued its unsolicited bid for First Interstate Bancorp. Dime Bancorp, the big East Coast thrift, adopted a shareholder rights plan late in October, as did One Valley Bancshares in West Virginia. Both institutions insisted they weren't reacting to any specific. Must be in the air.

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