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Trash haulers Allied Waste and Republic in talks to merge

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From Bloomberg News

Allied Waste Industries Inc. and Republic Services Inc., the second- and third-largest U.S. trash haulers by sales, are in talks to merge in a proposed transaction worth $6.59 billion.

Allied Waste shareholders would receive 0.45 shares of Republic Services common stock for each Allied Waste share, the companies said Friday.

The combination would create a larger rival to Houston-based Waste Management Inc., the biggest trash hauler by sales. All three companies have spent more than a year dropping less-profitable customers and raising prices amid higher fuel costs and a decline in U.S. home building, which has undercut demand for debris removal. The strategy helped all three companies report higher earnings for 2007 and the first quarter of 2008.

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Shares of Phoenix-based Allied rose $1.08 to $15. Shares of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Republic rose 19 cents to $33.85.

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