limuzhi <limu...@gmail.com>

Focus Media (Nasdaq:FMCN) spokesman Ji Hairong said Tuesday that the
merger between Focus Media and Sina (Nasdaq:SINA) is not as
"optimistic" as expected, and that China's Ministry of Commerce has
not yet formally accepted the case, reports The Beijing News.

Even if the merger fails, the parties will maintain their good
business cooperation, Ji said. Sina remarked to The Beijing News that
that everything was still going through the channels.

Sohu quoted an investment bank insider on June 23 as saying that the
merger between Sina and Focus Media has broken down due to problems
with the transaction process, rather than government hurdles.

Reported by JLM Pacific