MERGER COMPLETE???

[soloist]

There's one less barrier standing between the union of gaming retailers Electronics Boutique and GameStop, as the companies announced today that their proposed merger has been "declared effective"--"approved" in non-finance speak--by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. <
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>Stocks for both companies were up sharply today as a result of the announcement. Shortly after 2 p.m. EDT, GameStop was up almost 5 percent, with a $1.62 gain leading the stock to trade at $35.45, while Electronics Boutique was up $1.36 to $65.84, a gain of more than 2 percent. Since the announcement of the merger, both companies have seen their stock price increase by more than 50 percent. <
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>Now the companies will put the vote to their investors at their simultaneous respective annual stockholders meetings on October 6 at 1 p.m. EDT. The boards of directors for both companies have given the merger the thumbs-up and have advised their stockholders to do the same. If approved, the deal is expected to be closed shortly thereafter. <
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>Each company operates roughly 2,000 stores worldwide. Combined, they're expected to hold a market share of about 20 percent, making the new company the second-biggest gaming retailer in the US, behind only Wal-Mart. <
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>-GS- <i></i>

[bdunn420]

So, would the name of those two companie's change? Gamestop Boutique? <i></i>

[soloist]

How about Electronic Stop or <
>Game Boutique (laughs).<
>I would think it woul-<
>d be better to ke-<
>ep the individ-<
>ual names t-<
>o prevent<
>the fol-<
>lowi-<
>ng:<
><
>-confusion for customers of each<
>-more money invested in recontruction (though I doubt this would really be an issue) <i></i>