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      <title>Latest News Current Issue</title>
      <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/index.html</link>
      <description></description>
      <language>en-us</language>
      <copyright>Copyright 2007 Mergers Unleashed. All rights Reserved.</copyright>
<managingEditor>editor@mergersunleashed.com</managingEditor>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 17:02:10 EDT</pubDate>
      <lastBuildDate>Mon, 12 May 2008 17:02:10 EDT</lastBuildDate>
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         <title><![CDATA[Norwest Mezzanine Names Hogan Partner]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Norwest Equity's mezzanine arm named former Piper Jaffray managing director John Hogan partner, crediting his Rolodex of private equity firms.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181689-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Rodman Buys Energy I-Bank COSCO]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[New York investment bank Rodman &amp; Renshaw will pay $10.1 million for Cosco Capital's oil and gas expertise, which Rodman plans to expand into the energy sector.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181690-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Cablevision Makes Newsday Latest Buy]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[After winning the Sundance Channel, the cable operator trumped Rupert Murdoch, and other New York media moguls, for Newsday. Is The Weather Channel in the forecast?]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181695-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Week Starts Well for Mid-Market PE]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[While new deals by large leveraged buyout firms are few and far between, middle-market private equity investors are busy — witness deals for Saunders and James Brown.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181696-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Cumulus Buyout Terminated]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The credit crunch strikes again. The Atlanta radio broadcaster will now get a $15 million termination fee after would-be buyers Merrill Lynch backed out.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181738-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Compass Sells Silvue to Mitsui Chem for $95M]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Connecticut PE shop Compass sold glass coatings maker Silvue to Mitsui Chemicals, a deal which employed the firm's unique public financing structure. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181741-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Houlihan Lokey Promotes Three to MD]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Mid-market investment bank Houlihan Lokey promoted Timothy Davis, Jennifer Muller and Andrew Turnbull to managing directors.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181744-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Complete Energy to Merge with GSC SPAC]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Houston's Complete Energy agreed to go public through a GSC Group-managed SPAC in a merger that values the energy company and its two natural gas plants at $1.3 billion.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181748-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Citigroup Plans Huge Asset Sale]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The investment bank's $400 billion asset sale aims to slim down its outsized portfolio, and reverse a stock price that has tumbled significantly over the past year.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181591-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Circuit City Now Open to Possible Sale]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[After some initial reluctance, the electronics retailer is hanging up the 'For Sale' sign, hiring Goldman Sachs to look at strategic alternatives, and opening its books to Blockbuster.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181614-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[3M to Sell HighJump, Buy Quest ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The manufacturer first agreed to sell HighJump Software to Battery Ventures. One hour later, 3M said it was buying Quest Technologies.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181672-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Heywood Named CEO of LGV Capital]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Presently a managing director at the London-based firm, Ivan Heywood succeeds Adrian Johnson in the top seat.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181673-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[More Bulge-Bracket Layoffs Coming]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Morgan Stanley will cut 5% of its workforce, mostly in the U.S., following similar retrenching at UBS and, reportedly, Goldman.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181573-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Bear Holders Concede, Sort Of]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Shareholders have withdrawn a request for a preliminary injunction to stop the deal, Reuters reported on Wednesday.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181574-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[O.G. Greene Joins Navigation Capital]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The former Unisys executive was named operating partner for the Atlanta-based private equity firm, and as director of its portfolio company Exeter Finance.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181579-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Norwest Equity Promotes Three]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Minneapolis' Norwest Equity Partners promoted Todd Solow to partner, and promoted Tom Schauerman and Andrew Cantwell to principals.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181581-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[JMI, Carlyle Take Gemcom Private]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[JMI Equity and The Carlyle Group teamed up to take Canada's Gemcom Software International, a mining software maker, private at about $180 million in cash, or $2.90 a share.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181584-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[NBC's Station Auction Underway]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Strategic, financial bidders expected to compete for top 20-market TV station as FCC weighs relaxing regs.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181556-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[First Reserve Invests in Ethanol Maker]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Energy-focused PE shop First Reserve invested $300 million in Osage Bio Energy, a company that aims to make barley-based ethanol.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181557-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Ropes &amp; Gray Opens Hong Kong Site]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The law firm hired Scott Jalowayski as a partner and transferred existing partner Alison Bomberg to launch a new Hong Kong outpost.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181558-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Analyst: GTA IV Won't Lift Take-Two's Value]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Analysts question whether Grand Theft Auto IV's big first-week payday will be enough to boost Take-Two Interactive's value against Electronic Arts, its very hungry suitor.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181559-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Silver Lake's Mid-Market Arm Pulls in Over $1B  ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The former Shah Capital Partners team has closed its debut fund under the Silver Lake umbrella.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181529-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Lonestar Capital Hires J. Peter Lynch]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The solar market analyst will fill the public venture company's executive vice president of strategic development position.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181532-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Gores, Aquest Pull Bid for Asyst]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Gores Group and Aquest Systems withdrew their joint bid to acquire Asyst Technologies after saying Asyst repeatedly refused negotiations.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181538-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Canaccord Adams Names Schechner MD]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The investment bank named Dave Schechner, formerly of Needham &amp; Co., managing director focused on emerging therapeutics.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181540-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Saxon Signs Agreement with Sword Canada]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Sword Canada Acquisition Corporation will acquire the oilfield services company for C$7.00 per share.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181546-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[David Baxt Appointed Jefferies MD]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The former senior MD at Bear Stearns will head Jefferies' aerospace and defense investment banking group.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181551-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Newspaper Brings in Blackstone for Help]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Minneapolis Star Tribune hired Blackstone to help evaluate its finances, denying reports of missed debt payments — more bad news from the ailing newspaper industry.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181503-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Silver Lake Names Flint Senior Adviser]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Private equity shop Silver Lake named former Sony Ericsson executive and 25-year technology industry veteran Miles Flint a senior adviser.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181504-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[SEC Proposes Cross-Border Rule Change]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Last week, an SEC committee finished its review of cross-border merger laws, and is expected to announce proposals that would clear a hurdle hindering foreign buyers.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181511-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Microsoft Abandons Yahoo Chase]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Yahoo, whose stock opened Monday down 20%, now must prove to shareholders the company truly is worth as much as Microsoft thought.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181512-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Paul Closes Another Secondary Fund]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Paul Capital, exceeding its target by $100 million, closed its ninth secondary fund at $1.6 billion.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181515-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Houlihan Lokey Acquires Acris ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Arnold Holle, founder of the corporate finance boutique, will join Houlihan Lokey as a director.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181518-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[ING Agrees To Buy CitiStreet ]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Amsterdam's ING agreed to acquire Citigroup's defined contribution business for $900 million in a cash-only deal.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181385-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Federal Signal's Board OKs E-One Sale]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Federal Signal's board approved a plan to sell its E-One unit, a maker of fire rescue vehicles, after earlier saying it would explore strategic alternatives.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181428-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[All in the Family]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[As an increasing number of family-run business owners get ready to retire, advisers find they must cater to their unique needs.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181465-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Africa - The Final Frontier?]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Cheaper investment opportunities and simplified regulation abound in Africa, which is being targeted by billions in new funds.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181367-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Thomas Weisel Names Private Client Head]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The San Francisco investment bank named Paul Slivon to lead its private client department, after reporting a first-quarter loss earlier this week.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181369-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Brookwood Securities Names Gilbert MD]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Massachusetts private equity firm Brookwood Financial Partners named Bert Gilbert managing director of its broker-dealer arm.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181371-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

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         <title><![CDATA[Credit Crunch Eased Slightly in March]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[R.W. Baird data shows lending loosened a bit during the month of March, citing the recent Fed rate cuts — some good news amid further declines in mid-market deal flow.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181376-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Cablevision Emerges in Multiple Auctions]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The television titan considers becoming a heavyweight on the New York print scene and, soon, it could be delivering weather forecasts too.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181377-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[S&amp;P Stops Rating Home Equity Loan Bonds]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The subprime mess behind the lending crunch marked a further low — S&amp;P says losses on existing bond deals are so great it can't figure out how to rate them.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181379-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[K&amp;L Gates and Kennedy Covington To Merge]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[North Carolina law firm Kennedy Covington Lobdell &amp; Hickman is in talks to merge with K&amp;L Gates, adding the Carolinas to the New York firm's global web.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181380-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Catterton Closes New Fund With $300M]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new limited partnership will typically commit $10 million to $30 million of equity per transaction in high-growth consumer businesses.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181343-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[FTD Goes to United Online]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Just in time for Mother's Day, United Online will add the flower retailer to its portfolio of social networking and marketing Websites. The deal also allows Leonard Green to partially monetize its stake in FTD.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181344-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Generation Investment Closes $683M Fund]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Al Gore's green-focused investment firm closed its Climate Solutions Fund, which will target both private and public companies that combat global warming.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181349-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Clayton Dubilier Names Liddy Partner]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[London-based private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier &amp; Rice named Edward Liddy, former chief executive of Allstate Corp., partner.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181351-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Warburg Pincus Buys SafetyKleen Europe]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[As part of the £565 million deal, SafetyKleen will retain its management team as the industrial service provider continues to expand globally.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181355-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Greencore Buys Home Made Brand Foods]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The U.K.-based convenience food and malt producer enters the U.S. market with a buy of Massachusetts' prepared foods maker Home Made Brand Foods.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181357-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Vinum Launches Wine Fund]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[California's Vinum Capital Management announced a $250 million fund targeting wine companies located in Oregon, Washington and its home state.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181303-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[NautaDutilh Announces New Partner]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Netherlands-based law firm NautaDutilh named Pierre Reuter head of its Luxembourg investments funds practice.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181306-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Activists Take Center Stage]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[As the proxy season heats up, shareholder activists such as Carl Icahn have found success flexing their muscles. But activists insist proxy fights don't have to become contentious.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181309-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Trenwith Adds Three to Philly Office]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The investment bank named David Bookbinder, Robert Metzfield and Gerald Cullins Jr. to its recently-opened Philadelphia office to focus on valuation services.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181311-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Brown Brothers Harriman Names Software Head]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The New York-based firm recruited a managing director from Berkery Noyes to spearhead its software and technology enabled services M&amp;A practice.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181316-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Advent to Sell Bolix to Berger Paints]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Boston's Advent International agreed to sell Polish insulation company Bolix to Berger Paints India for a reported $38.6 million.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181318-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Siemens Purchase Marks New Era]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The sale of Morgan Construction marked the culmination of a 10-year relationship between Sperry Mitchell &amp; Co. and Massachusetts' Morgan family.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181332-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Ernst &amp; Young Names Infrastructure Head]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Anne Rabin will run the newly formed position within the firm's transaction advisory services group.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181247-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[ESOPs on the Rise]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Following Sam Zell's use of an employee stock ownership program to buy Tribune Co., interest in ESOPs has ratcheted up. But most market pros note that typically these types of transactions will be confined to the small- and middle market.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181249-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Eos Is Latest Airline Headed To Bankruptcy Court]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Rising oil prices, a global economic slowdown and tough credit conditions have claimed another victim in the airline space.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181252-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Continental Rebuffs United Merger]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Continental Airlines ended merger talks with United Airlines, leaving stunned analysts to debate whether the carrier now stands to build on its strengths, or lose them. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181258-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[American Airlines' Other Issue]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Five years after agreeing to major concessions at a time American also faced Chapter 11, union leadership now isn't likely to be as accommodating.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181260-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Summit Closes Europe, Sub Debt Funds]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Boston's Summit Partners closed a subordinated debt fund and a €1 billion Europe private equity fund, the firm's first that is Euro-denominated.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181264-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Alvarez &amp; Marsal Name Galante MD]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Alvarez &amp; Marsal named Daniel Galante managing director and national practice leader based in Chicago.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181265-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Wrigley-Mars Deal Creates Candy Titan]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Mars, backed by Warren Buffett, will pay $23 billion to take the candy maker private, in a deal that shows how the credit crunch is forcing buyers to pony up more cash.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181290-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Fidelity National Pursues Asset Sale]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The company aims to sell certain lines of its specialty insurance business and possibly its stake in Sedgwick, as part of an initiative to repay debt and buy back more stock.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181114-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Tabloid Fight For Newsday?]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Possible bidding war for Zell property comes day after Tribune sheds more Connecticut assets.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181123-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[Microsoft's Mid-Market Alternative?]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[With the Yahoo deadline set to expire, observers believe the software giant could look toward friendlier buys, particularly in the mid-market.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181178-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[ExpressJet Rejects Bid, Mulls Options]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Continental Airlines is listed as a merger candidate after Goldman Sachs is made financial advisor.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181241-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
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         <title><![CDATA[LVMH Tries on Hublot]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The deal for the high-end watchmaker could signal a desire to pursue smaller strategic transactions.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181097-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Duff &amp; Phelps Opens Paris Restructuring Office]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The advisory firm, with an eye on the worsening credit environment, continues to build out its restructuring capabilities.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181098-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Buyers Targeting the Utilities]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Utility deals aren't easy. But buyers are increasingly seeing through the red tape to pick out targets in the space, and with a number of players becoming capital constrained, more investors may dive in. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181101-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Wendy's Sale Comes in a Down Market]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Triarc buyout of fast-food chain is an all-stock acquisition that is met with push-back from founding father's family. ]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181102-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Halyard Buys Telecom-Cable Asset]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[PE firm taps cable executive to help form NuLink for suburban Atlanta consumers.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181065-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Lehman Bros. Appoints New Head of SWFs]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Makram Azar, the firm's head of media, consumer and retail investment banking will service SWF M&amp;A and investment banking needs.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181073-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[AIG Closes Latin American Fund]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[AIG Brazil Special Situations Fund II, L.P. closes with $691.9 million.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181074-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[What's Fair?]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The fair value debate rages on, as private equity GPs try to get their hands around mark-to-market accounting at a time when their portfolios are getting squeezed.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181076-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Lincoln International Hires New VP]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The firm's new VP, Alyssa Morrisroe, was previously a vice president at Jefferies Quarterdeck.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181078-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Smaller PE Players Stay On Aggressive Track]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Raising money will continue to be a challenge this year, however.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181082-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Angelo Gordon Files to Float SPAC]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The alternatives investor put its own spin on the offering, introducing various changes to the capital structure designed to make the SPAC a more "competitive acquirer."]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181087-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Paine Taps Nordic Operating Partners]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The New York- and San Francisco-based firm hired two executives in Iceland and Norway with designs on capturing opportunities in Europe.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181088-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Trib's Newsday Goes to News Corp.]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Sam Zell eases his new company's debt with $580m sale to Murdoch's ever-expanding New York media empire.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181052-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Looking Beyond Traditional Media]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Blogs have gained mainstream appeal, as trailblazers such as Arianna Huffington, Nick Denton and others have built franchises that rival traditional media for viewers. Dealmakers, judging by recent activity, are just now starting to take notice.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181056-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[In Law Settles with SEC]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The SEC reached a settlement with a day trader accused of breaking into his brother in law's computer to gain access to a confidential private equity-backed deal.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181057-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[BNP 'In Talks' To Buy BofA's Prime Brokerage]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A source close to BNP Paribas confirmed that the French bank is 'in advanced talks' to acquire Bank of America's prime brokerage unit.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181058-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Warburg Pincus Closes $15b Fund]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The private equity firm's growth-oriented fund courted many investors outside of the U.S.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181062-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Palladium Backs LatAm Tech-Services Rollup]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The new platform has already inked two deals, both in Brazil, and aims to turn its sights to the U.S. next.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181068-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Linens Holding Forms Vendor Committee]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Linens 'n Things established an ad hoc committee to ensure the company's product supply isn't interrupted during restructuring.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181028-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[ISS Supports Sun Capital Candidates]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[A proxy advisory firm recommended Furniture Brands shareholders vote in favor of three directors nominated by Sun Capital Partners last week.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181031-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[NatCity Receives $7B Capital Infusion]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[PE firm Corsair Capital invested $985 million in Cleveland bank National City, with the rest coming from several large institutional stockholders.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181032-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Francisco Backs Blue Coat Acquisition]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Blue Coat Systems' $268 million purchase of Packeteer is being funded partially by an $80 million private placement from San Francisco's Francisco Partners.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181036-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Avnet To Buy Ireland's Horizon Technology]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Phoenix electronic components distributor agreed to acquire Horizon through a €1.18 all-cash tender offer, continuing its European push.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181040-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Waterstone Names Jenson Equity Partner]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Waterstone Group Holdings, a Chicago-based private equity advisory group, named Mark Jenson equity partner focusing on the analytics and advisory business.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181044-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Emerging Capital Buys into Mauritania]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Betting on growth, the Africa-focused fund acquired a controlling interest in BACIM Bank, a chain of 11 banks in West Africa.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181045-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Okapi Partners Makes New Hire]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The proxy solicitation firm added Steven Balet, a veteran of MacKenzie Partners, as senior managing director to bolster its team.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/181048-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Lazard Names Choon MD, Hong Kong]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Lazard Asset Management named Henry Choon managing director of business development and marketing for Asia.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/180909-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Fraud Charges Levied at PE Pro]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The SEC filed a complaint charging Unified Growth Partners John Milne with fraud during his time at United Rentals.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/180912-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Linens 'n Things Hires Sales Advisor]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The sagging housewares chain hired Financo as a special advisor to explore its selling options, once again tabling bankruptcy rumors.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/180915-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Ross Seeks SWFs to Nab US Banks]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[Wilbur Ross will travel to Abu Dhabi to meet with sovereign wealth funds, as part of a plan to raise $4 billion to buy troubled U.S. banks.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/180998-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Asset Dump Coming at Tribune?]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[With any Chicago Cubs deal tentatively shelved for 2008, the newest member of the Associated Press' board, Sam Zell, is considering new M&amp;A strategies as he looks to pay down debt from the $8.2 billion Tribune buyout last year.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/180887-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>

      <item>
         <title><![CDATA[Akin Gump Promotes Alexander to Partner]]></title>
         <description><![CDATA[The Houston-based law firm promoted senior counsel William Alexander, a member of the energy and global transactions practice, to partner.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.mergersunleashed.com/news/180888-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS</link>
      </item>
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