FUN WHILE IT LASTED:

U.S. to Hire Adviser for IPO of GM (RANDALL SMITH and SHARON TERLEP, 5/15/10, WSJ)

The Treasury Department is interviewing Wall Street bankers to advise the government on an IPO of General Motors Corp., the most serious sign yet that the government is moving to end its auto-industry ownership. [...]

[T]he Obama administration is hopeful GM will go public this year. Ron Bloom, President Obama's top car-industry adviser, said this week he is optimistic the move could come by year's end. Administration officials have been pleased with GM's progress since bankruptcy. The auto maker repaid its U.S. loan ahead of schedule and is expected on Monday to report solid first-quarter earnings.