ChoicePoint Acquires Bridger Systems

NU Online News Service, Oct. 3, 2:51 p.m.EDT?ChoicePoint, a provider of identification andcredential verification services, said it has acquired BridgerSystems Inc., a risk management software research and developmentcompany based in Bozeman, Mont.

ChoicePoint, based in Alpharetta, Ga., said the acquisitionwould allow its information services to comply with the Patriot Actrequirements for the financial services industry by combining itsauthentication and due-diligence expertise with Bridger Systems'technology solutions.

ChoicePoint said it would begin to consolidate the entireBridger suite of products into the offerings of the ChoicePointPublic Records Group, to create a comprehensive set of solutionsfor identity verification and compliance with new anti-terrorismlaws.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The Patriot Act requires financial institutions to verify andidentify all new customers, maintain records relating toinformation used to verify customer identities, and check customernames against government-maintained lists of suspectedterrorists.

The Act requires banks and other financial institutions toverify the identity of account holders, and expands and strengthensthe tools used by law enforcement to prevent financing ofterrorism, identity theft and money laundering, ChoicePointsaid.