Phoenix Buys Financial Specialist SYNERGISTICS

In the US, research agency Phoenix Marketing International (PMI) has acquired financial industry specialist SYNERGISTICS Research Corporation for an undisclosed sum. The business will operate henceforth under the brand name Phoenix SYNERGISTICS.

SYNERGISTICS conducts multi-sponsor custom and syndicated research studies covering business/market issues across areas including the Canadian market, consumer credit, mortgage and home equity, and investments and insurance. Clients include banks, brokerage firms, mutual fund companies, retailers and card organizations.

PMI says the acquisition will enable it to expand, while complementing its existing financial services syndicated research with market and operational focused studies. The new Phoenix SYNERGISTICS business will continue to be run by former SYNERGISTICS CEO Bill McCracken and former COO Genie Driskill, and both will also become PMI EVPs, reporting to Neal Chambliss, co-President, Financial Services at PMI.

Commenting on the deal, PMI CEO Al DeCotiis said: 'SYNERGISTICS is one of the most successful syndicated market research companies in the financial services industry and their shared-cost research represents an effective and time-efficient way to obtain data and deliver timely insights for clients. Our teams have had a long history over the course of our careers, and are energized to have the opportunity to work together evolving our innovative research efforts and expanding our client base'.

Web sites: www.phoenixmi.com and www.synergisticsresearch.com .