Listen to this article

Healthcare Communications Inc., Princeton, N.J., has formed Veterinary Communications Inc. VCI will operate as a separate division and will specialize in promotion research related to veterinarians and the cattle- and swine-producer markets. Calvin "Cal" Probst, who founded the animal health studies division of HCI, has been licensed to continue and expand studies to match the needs of these highly specialized markets. He will still operate out of the HCI offices in Princeton.

Total  Research  Corporation, Princeton, N.J., has signed a letter of intent to acquire Kapuler Marketing Research Inc. (KMR), Arlington Heights, Ill. Under the terms of the agreement, Stanley Kapuler, current president of KMR, would head up the Kapuler Marketing Research division of the combined companies in addition to becoming a senior vice president of Total Research. Kapuler Marketing Research would become a subsidiary of Total Research, and the combined entity would have annual revenues in excess of $17 million. The acquisition would be for a combination of cash and restricted stock, with a two-year earn-out paid in restricted stock. At press time, the scheduled closing date for the acquisition was March 31.

In a separate move, the Delphi Group of Total Research Corporation has named the six members of its alliance of specialists that pro vide quality improve-ment clients with data-driven, customer-focused solutions for process enhancement and cultural change. Members of the alliance are Best Practices Benchmarking and Consulting Inc., Lexington, Mass.; EXL Group, Nashua, N.H.; The Geneve Consulting Group, Barrington, Ill.; The Pacesetter Group, Princeton, N.J.; Total Research Corporation, Princeton, N.J.; and Wm. M. Schiemann & Associates, Somerville, N.J. The alliance is designed to expand the scope of quality management services each company can offer its clients.

Detroit-based Crimmins & Forman Market Research Inc. recently opened two new facilities. One is a high-tech focus facility and office complex in Southfield, Mich. The other, called Consumer Research Center, is a 2,000-square foot mall facility at Westland Mall in Westland, Mich. The new offices join the company's existing field office in Lathrup Village, Mich., and mall facility at Wonderland Mall in Livonia, Mich. The company says the expansion moves have increased its mall, WATS room, field, test kitchen and focus capabilities.

Chicago-based statistical software supplier SPSS Inc. has expanded its scope in the European market by establishing a fully owned subsidiary in Paris (Boulogne - Billancourt), France. The move was coordinated with the release of the French version of the company's SPSS for Windows software. SPSS France will market and sell the complete line of SPSS products with a concentration on the SPSS for Windows product line. The general manager of the Paris office is Catherine Gallou. The address is: SPSS France SARL, 72-74 Avenue Edouard VAILLANT, 92100 Boulogne, France.