The New York holding company M&F Worldwide Corp. has acquired John H. Harland Co. of Atlanta.
The $1.7 billion deal, which was announced in December and closed May 1, reshaped the check-printing market.
Harland, which was the No. 2 check printer, has become a subsidiary of Clarke American Corp., the San Antonio unit of M&F that was the No. 3 check printer. Together, their check-printing operations will exceed those of Deluxe Corp. of Shoreview, Minn., which was No. 1.
Last year Deluxe reported revenue of $669.8 million from its check operations. Harland said it generated $648.4 million of check-printing revenue. Clarke American reported revenue of $623.9 million.
Clarke has been renamed Harland Clarke Holding Corp. and will operate out of Harland's headquarters.
