Card briefs: Completed: First Data's Purchase of 1st Financial

HACKENSACK, N.J. - First Data Corp. has completed its acquisition of First Financial Management Corp.

Stockholders of the two companies met jointly last week and approved the $7 billion merger, which created the world's largest electronic payment processing company.

First Data estimated that its 1995 revenues will be $3.6 billion; First Financial said about $2.35 billion would be from card processing.

Under the terms of the deal, First Data is exchanging 1.5859 of its shares for each First Financial share.

The company will record a one-time charge related to the merger in the fourth quarter of 1995, but expects the merger to be nondilutive in 1996.

Shareholders representing 77% of First Data's common either attended the meeting or were represented by proxy.

First Financial Management officials said virtually all of its shares cast in the vote approved the merger.

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