Card Briefs: Companies to Close Long-Awaited Merger

Two companies that license the Transmedia restaurant discount card have reaffirmed their intention to merge, saying they will complete the transaction this year.

Transmedia Asia Pacific Inc. and Transmedia Europe, which were incorporated separately but offer essentially the same products in their respective regions, announced the merger in early 1997 but the delays led some observers to question whether it would happen.

Last year "we were in the middle of a number of transactions and acquisitions and felt that to do it all at the same time" was too much, said Paul Harrison, president of Transmedia Europe.

The companies already share directors, officers, and some shareholders. Both have been "broadening the base of products," Mr. Harrison said.

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