Article: HFS TO BUY JACKSON HEWITT ERA, COLDWELL BANKER PARENT TO PAY $480 MILLION IN CASH. ATTRACTION WAS RAPID EXPANSION OF VIRGINIA BEACH-BASED TAX SERVICE.(BUSINESS)

Byline: TOM SHEAN, STAFF WRITER

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Jackson Hewitt Inc., the tax-preparation service based in Virginia Beach, said Wednesday that it agreed to become part of a major provider of lodging and real estate brokerage services for $480 million in cash.

The offer from Parsipanny, N.J.-based HFS Inc. works out to about $68 for each of Jackson Hewitt's shares.

News of the agreement propelled the price of Jackson Hewitt's shares to a record high of $67.25 in heavy trading in the Nasdaq National Market. The stock closed at $66.94 - a gain of $15.44, or 23 percent, for the day.

HFS was attracted to Jackson Hewitt by its rapid ...

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