Catching up on M&A news

This isn't exactly new news. I'm playing a little catch up, but I thought since mergers and acquisitions play such an important role in the government market, I should pass this information along.First, Lazard Ltd., the investment bank that handled the sale of EDO Corp. to ITT Corp., has hired Michale Richter and William Farmer away from Jefferies Quarterdeck. Richter and Farmer will be managing directors and co-heads of Lazard's U.S. aerospace and defense investment banking group.They'll take over the business on July 9. Richter will work out of Los Angeles, while Farmer will remain in Washington D.C.Also on the M&A front, Venture Management Inc. and Minuteman Ventures LLC have merged. The combined organization will operate under the Venture Management name.By joining forces the new firm will have a greater national reach and a broader experience to draw on.Venture Management is based in Ventura, Calif., and Minuteman operates out of the Boston area. Mark Shappee, who founded Venture Management in 1985, remains the firm's managing principal. Minuteman President Paul Serotkin is now a senior adviser at Venture Management.