NFO Research, Inc. has purchased Payment Systems, Inc. (PSI), Tampa, Fla. The reported purchase price was $6 million, half of which is payable in NFO stock, the other half in cash. NFO paid 80% of the total at closing. The remaining 20% will be payable over the next two years and is subject to adjustment based on PSI's actual earnings during that period. PSI's 1993 revenues were approximately $7 million. With the transaction, PSI becomes NFO's third operating division dedicated to the information needs of a specialized niche market. PSI is focused on the U.S. and international financial services markets. NFO's other operating divisions are focused on the yellow pages and pharmaceutical/health care industries.
GENESYS Sampling Systems has relocated to new, larger facilities. The company's address is: 565 Virginia Dr., Fort Washington, Pa. 19034.
Chilton Research Services has expanded by creating four specialty groups under its auspices: health care, consumer products, business and industrial services, and the TEC (telecommunications/ entertainment/computers) group. The TEC group has been further broken down into an entertainment side and a telecommunications and computer technology side. The company has named group heads in each area. Chilton Research Services has offices in Radnor, Pa., and Northbrook, Ill.
Decision Analyst, Inc. has moved into a recently purchased 3.2-acre complex at 604 Ave. N. E. in Arlington, Texas. The complex includes two buildings - each with about 25,000 square feet of space. The company's 150 employees are housed in the recently remodeled east building. The total cost of the project was about $1.2 million. The 16-year-old company previously leased space in a high-rise complex in Arlington.
As part of its recent expansion, Rockbridge Associates, Inc. has moved into new offices at 226 Maple Ave. W., #303, Vienna, Va. 22180.
Data Niche Associates, Inc. has moved into new office space. The company's address is: 540 Frontage Rd., Suite 2135, Northfield, Ill. 60093.
Quality Controlled Services, St. Louis, has been named the 1993 recipient of NCR Corp.'s Supplier Excellence Award. This marks the second consecutive year QCS has been selected. The six award criteria are quality, expertise, creativity, partnership, timeliness and cost management.
Information Resources, Inc., Chicago, and the Hong Kong-based Survey Research Group (SRG) have announced that they have signed an agreement in principle providing for IRI to acquire privately held SRG in an exchange of stock valued at $76 million. SRG is Asia's largest market research firm, operating retail tracking services in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. In 1993, the company had worldwide sales in excess of $70 million, up 20% over 1992. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 1994.
In a separate action, IRI has signed a letter of intent to purchase Conn.-based Neo, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Neo is a management consulting firm that focuses on the consumer packaged goods industry. IRI intends to operate Neo as an autonomous operating division with its current management and staff. The two companies expect to close the transaction by the end of March 1994.
IRI also has announced a joint development partnership with The Partnering Group, Inc. (TPG), Cincinnati. IRI and TPG are developing a software product that will provide retailers and manufacturers with an industry-accepted method for executing category management. The Partnering Group is a consultancy specializing in manufacturer and retailer partnering and ECR initiatives such as category management. The product of the IRI-TPG partnership will combine the category management practices developed and standardized by the Partnering Group with IRI's analytical software and the InfoScan-Census data that is a prerequisite for these types of applications.
IRI and Datos C.A. have announced plans to form a joint venture in Venezuela that will operate the present Datos market research businesses in that country and provide opportunities for future growth. Datos supplies syndicated market tracking and other research services in Venezuela. IRI will own 49% of the joint venture, while the Datos share-holders will own 51%. At presstime, the transaction was expected to be completed in mid-February. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Gary Mullet Associates, Inc. has relocated. The company's new offices are located at: 466 Connemara Crossing, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30244-4854.
Questionnaire Consultants has a new address. It is: 20 Church St., B13, Greenwich, Conn. 06830.
Jan Bush of Van Bush Marketing has announced the formation of Advance Marketing Group, LLC. This new company reflects the addition of two new partners, Sharon Arney and Delvin Holdeman, to her field marketing company. Van Bush Marketing has merged into Advance Marketing Group, LLC. The new company will specialize in product demonstrations, mystery shopping, employee training, executive interviews, group interviews and market research. AMG will concentrate its efforts in Wichita and communities across Kansas and Missouri. The company is located at: 340 South Laura, Wichita, Kan. 67211.