One of Birmingham's best known PR and marketing consultancies has been taken over.
Brindleyplace-based Quantum PR has been acquired for an undisclosed cash and shares sum by Freshwater UK to represent its Midlands operation.
The consultancy has been renamed Quantum Freshwater UK and will work closely with other group offices in Cardiff, London, Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Edward Carter and Anne Parry, who founded Quantum PR in its current form in 1997, continue in their current roles as managing director and deputy managing director respectively.
The deal brings extensive experience in professional services, financial PR, property, construction, automotive, sport and leisure to the group.
Mr Carter said: "We have been extremely successful as an independent consultancy, but we now have the opportunity to work as part of a national team as well as promoting the region and our industry expertise. We expect to be able to attract even more high profile national work to the group and to Birmingham.
"The chance to become part of a much larger operation, by joining an entrepreneurial group with a similar culture and innovative approach to PR and marketing, heralds an exciting new beginning for us.
"As far as our West Midlands operation is concerned, it is business as usual, and clients will continue to be serviced in exactly the same way, by the same teams. But the group perspective will add value for our clients and ourselves."
Steve Howell, chief executive of Freshwater UK, said: "Developing a network of like-minded consultancies enables us to give clients in each region access to new services and markets, and to offer national brands an integrated regional approach."
Freshwater's office network is linked to a central service centre in Cardiff, which provides both back office support and marketing services, including graphic design and media buying. The enlarged Freshwater group has a 40-strong team and is aiming for a combined turnover of more than £3 million.
