Chime Buys Pharma Data Firm pH Associates

UK marcoms group Chime Communications has acquired pharma market access and data provider pH Associates (PHA) from its owners Kate Peperell and Lesley Howell, for an initial consideration of £6.92m.

Founded in 1999, PHA specialises in the evaluation of NHS services and interventions through bespoke audit and research projects, including 'real world' data collection projects in both primary and secondary care in the NHS.

Chime says the acquisition is a further step in the development of its OPEN Health division, which includes market research and brand planning arm OPEN Plan, offering global and domestic research services, qual, quant and online. Following completion of the deal, Peperell and Howell will develop PHA as part of OPEN Health.

For the year ended 30 September 2011, PHA reported revenue of £1.7m and operating profit of £584k. The acquisition also involves deferred consideration of approximately £14m, depending on PHA's future trading performance.

Web site: www.chimeplc.com and www.phassociates.com .