CINCINNATI, OH — GroupMAC and Excellence Alliance, Inc. (EAI), announced that EAI has acquired United Service Alliance (USA), an industry training and networking organization, from GroupMAC. Under this agreement, the independent contractor members of USA will become members of EAI.

The merger of USA and EAI became effective December 23, 1999.

Pete Arvan, USA president, described the transaction as “a significant unification of two major contractor groups that will bring increased benefits to USA members while increasing the size and scope of EAI.

“We believe this is a very positive action for USA — one that will enhance the training and services available to our contractors.”

Jeff Wilmink, EAI president and ceo, commented that “We welcome the members of USA to our network and look forward to extending our programs, products and services to enhance their profitability.”

Purchase agreement

The transaction resulted from a purchase agreement between GroupMAC and Excellence Alliance Group, of which EAI is a subsidiary.

GroupMAC has operated USA as a wholly owned subsidiary organization for the last two and a half years.

GroupMAC chairman Jim Norris, who is slated to become chairman of EAI once the recently announced GroupMAC/Building One merger is completed, described the merger as a win-win-win situation for GroupMAC, USA, and EAI.

“The United Service Alliance has been an important part of GroupMAC’s delivery network for services to national accounts,” Norris said. “We will retain that network relationship with the combined EAI and USA membership, and greatly increase our geographic scope as a result of this merger.

“I feel a strong sense of commitment to the USA members and I feel my involvement will make this transition easier for them,” he added. “When the deal went through, I knew [joining EAI] was the right thing to do.”

According to Wilmink, “EAI and GroupMAC will offer mutual support services to their respective national account strategies in the future. The merger with USA and a new strategic alliance with GroupMAC make both of our national account organizations stronger and more responsive to the marketplace.

“With the union of USA and EAI, we will devote our full attention and resources to making these combined groups more effective and successful.”

Norris concluded, “Since GroupMAC is expanding our national accounts service delivery capabilities and since we are assured that USA members will obtain important new benefits from EAI, this is the right time to merge these organizations.

“Our goal is to double the size of EAI in the next two years.”