Merger Fever Grips the US Northeast

TheDeal.com, Peter Moreira and Vipal Monga, 15 July 2005As TD Banknorth Inc.'s agreement to buy Hudson United Bancorp Inc. raises the specter of Northeastern bank consolidation, shares of Philadelphia-based Sovereign Bancorp Inc. are soaring, thanks not only to the deal, but to a large, disgruntled shareholder.Even before the unit of Toronto-Dominion Bank announced its $1.9 billion purchase on