Research Now completes merger with Shelton’s SSI

Research Now and Shelton”™s Survey Sampling International have completed their merger agreement following regulatory approval. Gary S. Laben, CEO of Research Now in Plano, Texas, will lead the joint organization, Research Now SSI, as CEO.

With the merger, the firm becomes the market research industry’s largest provider of online panel data and technology-based research solutions based on opted-in data.

The combined company is privately held, with Court Square Capital Partners and HGGC, the current majority owners of Research Now and SSI, respectively, remaining as majority owners of the combined business. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Research Now SSI Senior Vice President, Global Marketing Barbara Palmer said that the combined company expects to maintain a strong focus on growth, and that while some redundancies may be identified, a major impact on its approximately 250 Shelton employees was not expected.

In addition, she said that former SSI President and CEO Chris Fanning would remain with the firm as a strategic advisor to its board.