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Johnston, 617-796-8222Manager analyzes 90125 yes of Investor yesworld evaluates Relations Business Wire 2009. Spectrum Gaming Group Hires Industry Veteran Rene Lindsen to Oversee EuropeInitiativeASCONA, Switzerland, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Spectrum Gaming Group, the globalleader in independent gaming research and professional services, todayannounced that it has hired industry veteran Rene Lindsen to direct thecompany's Europe 2009 initiative.As Spectrum's Associate Director - Europe, Lindsen will oversee Spectrum'smarketing, brand development and client services throughout Europe from hisoffice here. Lindsen will work with gaming operators, investors andgovernments in apprising them of Spectrum's array of services, including:--Licensing Investigations--Regulatory Services--Compliance Auditing--Anti-Money-Laundering Controls--Business Intelligence--Marketing and Operations Consulting--Feasibility Studies--Market Analyses--Economic-Impact Reports--Country Evaluations"Rene Lindsen brings a wealth of experience to Spectrum as we broaden ourreach around the world. Rene has worked in all aspects of the gaming industry,speaks five languages, and is well-versed in gaming from the United Kingdom toRussia," said Fredric Gushin, Spectrum Managing Director.Lindsen worked 14 years for Holland Casino, opened three casinos inSwitzerland, reorganized casinos in South America and has 20 years ofinternational gaming experience. He has further worked with operators andgovernments throughout Europe as an independent consultant."I am pleased to be joining Spectrum Gaming Group, a company that hasdeveloped a worldwide reputation for independence, integrity and outstandingservice. I look forward to lending my expertise to the company and workingwith new and existing Spectrum clients," Lindsen said.Spectrum has worked extensively on five continents, including Europeanengagements in Croatia, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Russia, SlovakRepublic, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

The company maintains offices inAscona, Atlantic City, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Harrisburg, Hong Kong, Las Vegas,Macau, Manila and Tokyo.For more information, contact Rene Lindsen at orvisit contact:Joseph WeinertSenior Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Group+1.609.652.6672; SOURCESpectrum Gaming GroupJoseph Weinert, Senior Vice President of Spectrum Gaming Group,+1-609-652-6672, a thousand times yes . NEW YORK (Reuters) - Combining Citigroup's Smith Barney with Morgan Stanley's brokerage division would generate much-needed capital for Citi and make Morgan a top U.S yesloans . retail wealth manager, but analysts warn that such deals seldom pan out, even in good times.Citi is expected to announce plans to combine Smith Barney with Morgan's individual investor business in a venture run by Morgan i've seen all good people . The investment bank would pay Citi up to $3 billion in cash for a 51 percent stake in the venture, according to sources familiar with the matter.Analysts estimate that such a deal would yield an equity boost of about $6 billion for Citi and reinforce Morgan's reliance on affluent and middle class individual investors.Yet Wall Street mergers work better in theory than in practice, analysts said, and Morgan is making a bold bet by expanding its brokerage at a time when many Americans are dealing with the challenges of a shrinking economy."The newly combined company will likely face a multiyear retail downturn as it attempts the difficult effort of integrating the businesses," Bernstein Research analyst Brad Hintz told clients on Monday.Talks between the two companies continued over the weekend seen all good people .

An agreement is expected to be announced this week.If the companies agree, the venture would be a giant in the brokerage industry, with 22,000 advisers and $1.8 trillion in client assets . Bank of America Corp, which acquired brokerage Merrill Lynch 11 days ago, has 20,000 brokers and more than $2 trillion in assets.Shares of Citi fell 7 percent to $6.28 in morning trade, while Morgan shares rose 5 percent to $20.00, their highest level in three months.Citi's plan to sell one of its better performing businesses reinforced worries among investors that the company, hobbled by massive losses in the past year, is in real distress, despite tens of billions of dollars of government bailout money.Analyst Meredith Whitney of Oppenheimer & Co told clients that Citi still will need to raise additional funds, given its large exposure to risky assets."Capital remains at the focus of Citi's challenges ive seen all good people . While we believe this deal will provide some near-term capital relief, more likely will be needed," Whitney wrote.PROS AND CONSFor Morgan, the deal will expand its earnings from retail businesses at a time when its flagship "institutional" activities -- merger advisory, underwriting and securities trading -- suffer from the continuing credit crunch.Analysts say the combination will yield significant cost savings for Morgan yesmagazine . Bernstein's Hintz estimated the venture would boost the brokerage division's pretax profit margin by 7.5 percentage points to 21.7 percent.Citi would realize significant up-front gains without having to sell the business outright -- no small consideration when there are few buyers capable or willing right now to pay Smith Barney's full value.New accounting rules will let Citi write up the value of its Smith Barney business by about $10 billion while still letting it receiving revenue .