> 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