Harland Must Pass Regulatory Muster ToGain Liberty

WASHINGTON - (04/11/05) -- The Federal Trade Commission isreviewing the proposed acquisition of Liberty Enterprises by JohnH. Harland Co. under the pre-merger notification provisions of theHart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act for its potential affects oncompetition. But officials involved in the deal expect the deal topass muster with the federal regulators. "We don't expect anyproblems," Stan Hollen, CEO of Liberty told The Credit UnionJournal last week. He said he expected the review of the $160million deal to be completed within 60 days. The combination willeliminate one more competitor in the rapidly declining market forcheck printing. "Our intention is to be the last check printerstanding," said John Heald, president of Harland's Printed ProductsDivision, of the dwindling number of printers serving financialinstitutions that will now include just Harland, along with Deluxeand Clarke American.