In most cases--including John Hancock--here's what the R class means: The firm each year will take 50 basis points---one-half of 1%--in expenses off the assets under management in the form of a so-called 12b(1) charge, authorized for marketing expenses.

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Sales of the R-Class have been sluggish ever since its introduction for the 2006 model year.

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Besides the usual hatchback, sedan and SUV, car shoppers today can consider yet-to-be-categorized cars such as the Mazda5, a micro-minivan, or Mercedes-Benz's R-Class, a maxi-station wagon.

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Some are being discontinued because they flopped in the market, like the Maybach ultra-luxury sedan, the Mercedes-Benz R-class or the Lexus HS250h, a pricey hybrid that fell short in terms of fuel efficiency, luxury and functionality.

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R. 4853, the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010.

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At the American Le Mans Series' six-hour endurance race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in September, the GT3 R Hybrid walked away from the field, posting the fastest laps in the GT class and stopping only three times for fuel, compared with other competitors' five or more stops.

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Six served in the House (Burr, Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Thune and Vitter), which is up from four in the Class of 2002.

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And last year U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein in New York approved a racketeering class action on behalf of every consumer who bought "light" cigarettes from Philip Morris, R.

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