ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) have agreed to continue the process of moving toward a merger of the two associations. The executive committees of both have instructed staff to engage outside legal and financial experts to conduct the necessary due diligence reviews required and to draft proposed merger documents.

In addition, both ARI and GAMA staffs have been meeting to review current operations and services and to provide recommendations on how these operations and services could be combined in a merged organization.

The current schedule calls for the ARI executive committee to review this information prior to the ARI board meeting in November. If approved by the executive committee, the ARI board will review the merger documents. The current schedule is for the board to consider the proposed merger at its November meeting. If it recommends approval, ARI’s members will review the merger documents and vote on the proposed merger. It is the current intent of the study group and the executive committees to make a decision on the proposed merger before the end of the year.

Publication date: 10/22/2007