QUES: Prosecutors contended that Mr. Durst had plotted the murder to assume Mr. Black 's identity .

Prosecutors maintained that Durst murdered Black to try to assume Black 's identity .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS: yes

QUES: Progress Software plans to acquire privately held DataDirect Technologies for about $ 88 million in cash , the companies said Friday .

Progress Software Corp. is acquiring DataDirect Technologies Ltd . , a privately held supplier of data-access software , for approximately $ 88 million , the companies said Friday .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS: yes

QUES: In addition , the committee noted , " while spending is firming , the labour market has been weakening " .

" The evidence accumulated over the intermeeting period confirms that spending is firming , although the labor market has been weakening .

The sentences above mean the same or not?
****
ANS:
yes