Merrill Lynch To Acquire First Republic

Merrill Lynch has agreed to acquire First Republic Bank for $1.8 billion in cash and stock. < ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />FirstRepublic shareholders would receive $55 per share. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />