While GM officials are the first to admit that the funding itself is in no way a negotiating tool, it's not hard to see how the new financing gives GM considerable leverage.

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For example, today the Rockefeller Foundation announced it will provide seed money for a new RE.invest initiative, a public-private partnership that will help selected cities to leverage private financing for sustainable storm water and sewer systems.

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For example, last week the Rockefeller Foundation announced it will provide seed money for a new RE.invest initiative, a public-private partnership that will help up to eight cities leverage private financing for sustainable storm water and sewer systems.

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Some new funding mechanisms are emerging that can help reduce risk and thus leverage large sums of financing.

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Still, the major debt-market improvements will lead to more leverage and easier terms for PE financing.

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Financing is cheap on loans used to finance leverage buyouts: The average yield in the junk-bond market is at its lowest level since October 2007, falling to 8.7%.

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We will continue to leverage our banking relationships as we arrange financing for our remaining newbuilding program.

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The increase in the amount of leverage that PE investors were able to bring to the financing of LBOs and the softer covenants attached to it in 2010 should continue throughout this year, provided investor demand remains buoyant.

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