InfoUSA buys Rubin Response

Database services giant infoUSA Inc. confirmed the purchase of list brokerage and management firm Rubin Response Services Inc. in a deal to strengthen its presence in the Midwest.

The acquisition comes in the same year that infoUSA, Omaha, NE, bought Mokrynskidirect, thus expanding its influence in the list industry. Terms of the Rubin Response deal were not disclosed.

"The acquisition of Rubin Response is a continuation of infoUSA's strategy to consolidate the fragmented list brokerage and management industry and offer a one-stop solution strategy," infoUSA chairman/CEO Vin Gupta said in a statement.

Rubin Response, Schaumburg, IL, was founded in 1974 by Bill and Arlene Rubin, both now deceased. Their three daughters sold the firm after the mother's death this year. Its operations will be integrated with those of infoUSA list firm Walter Karl. Judy Rubin, the only Rubin sister remaining with the firm, retains the president's post.

"They have a strong list brokerage group as well as list management," said Ed Mallin, president of infoUSA's Donnelley Group, Pearl River, NY. "They also have diverse clients in BTB, particularly high tech, and that fits very nicely with the product and other files that we manage. They also offer a lot of synergistic opportunities between the other list companies we own."