With Gas prices soaring to over $4 a gallon, US consumers are looking to downsize their mode of transportation. Sales of compacts, sedans and other cars jumped 3 percent in June compared with a 19 percent drop for less efficient SUVs and pickups, according to Ward's Automotive Group. In 1970, when the last fuel driven consumer shift to smaller vehicles occurred, serious injuries and more

Consolidated Graphics, Inc. announced that they had acquired PBM Graphics, a North Carolina based niche printer with revenues of $135m.  In addition to traditional commercial printing, PBM is a leading producer of trading cards and similar collectibles.

Apax Partners and the private-equity investment arm of Morgan Stanley will buy Chicago insurance brokerage Hub International Ltd. for approximately $1.7 billion, it was announced today. The group will pay Hub $40 per share, a 16% premium over the shares' Friday close. Hub provides insurance and employee benefit services to medium-sized companies and derives one-quarter of its business in Canada.

We are pleased to announce that Brian Burke joined Clear Rock Associates as a Director in 2008. Brian will be heading our Insurance practice area.

Brian brings a wealth of M&A experience, with particular focus on financial services and insurance industries. He brings with him 8 years of experience assisting middle market companies identify strategic alternatives. His expertise includes analysis

Big insurance broker USI Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: USIH) has agreed to be acquired by GS Capital Partners, a private equity affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co., in a transaction valued at approximately $1.4 billion, including repayment of USI's existing debt obligations

Under the terms of the GS Capital merger agreement, USI stockholders will receive $17.00 in cash for each share of USI common