CMF&Z Marketing Communications, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of 3i, LLC, Chicago.

CMF&Z Marketing Communications, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is now a wholly owned subsidiary of 3i, LLC, Chicago. 3i closed the acquisition in January 2002 and now owns 100 percent of the equity interests in CMF&Z.

According to Sean Bisceglia, 3i's chairman and chief executive officer, "CMF&Z represents an excellent platform for 3i to create value and grow. We are extremely pleased to have a firm of this heritage and brand awareness as part of our company. The acquisition is the first of several planed by 3i."

3i -- which stands for innovation, integration and investment -- intends to focus on the largely ignored portion of b-to-b marketing. In particular, it will target integrated marketing communications companies with $2 million to $30 million in annual revenue and focus on three key verticals: agribusiness, chemicals and manufacturing. A fourth vertical will be added later in the year; it will likely be technology.