FMS fails to start with error "TopologyObjectNotFoundException" (4316112)

There was a TopologyObjectNotFoundException encountered when the HostMergingService starts which is preventing the server from starting.

--ManagementServer_2014-02-19_090132_001.log
Invocation of init method failed; nested exception is com.quest.nitro.service.topolog y.TopologyObjectNotFoundException: Topology Object Not Found: c9f5b64b-477d-4859-a8d5-6bc6f2f147a3

NOTE:  Before performing any database delete statement, be sure to have a backup of the FMS database before proceding.

This example is for an Oracle database repository referencing the object ID observed in the FMS log:

1) DELETE from topology_object where TO_UNIQUE_ID like 'c9f5b64b-477d-4859-a8d5-6bc6f2f147a3';

2) COMMIT;

3) Start FMS software.