Won't ever happen IMO. For one JHTX is much stronger than Liberty Tax and the enterprise value alone is more valuable than Liberty's ability.
HRB had their chance for a buyout while the stock has been down in the gutter for a couple of years. They have enough of their own balance sheet problems (debt) to worry about.
Now Wal-Mart on the other hand or some large Insurance or Financial Services Company/Bank buying us out...that may be something to consider.
IMO honestly though I think it goes back private and gets back to the hardcore basics of being a tax prep service company without frills, bells and whistles. The individual tax prep industry is changing and the IRS/OTS and OTC is regulating the snot out of it now to drum up their own business.