What is the correct way to address a formal letter in German when you know the name of the recipiant?

I.e do you just put "liebe Herr...", or is there something special to put?





And how do you end it?

What is the correct way to address a formal letter in German when you know the name of the recipiant?
Beginning:


To a male: Sehr geehrter Herr XXX


To a female: Sehr geehrte Frau XXX





And the End:


Mit freundlichen Gr眉脽en
Reply:hmm right dont know german but if you know the person and want to do a formal letter then i would start it dear mr/mrs ................... and end it yours faithfully .....................
Reply:I might be inclined to use:





Sehr geehrter Herr ...,





Mit freundlichen Gr眉脽en,





if you don't have the special characters, you could use "Gruessen" instead of "Gr眉脽en"


(in email, you sometimes see this closing abbreviated as "MfG")