Local marketing firm McNeil Wilson Communications Inc. and its advertising affiliate are acquiring a major rival, Starr Seigle Communications Inc., in a deal the companies said will create the largest marketing conglomerate in the state.

McNeil Wilson and sister company Laird Christianson Advertising Inc. announced an agreement to purchase Starr Seigle for an undisclosed price.

The purchase is expected to close in mid-April and not result in employee layoffs or conflicts that would require terminating client accounts.

The combination of firms gives McNeil Wilson valuable practices at Starr Seigle that include research firm QMark Research and online marketing firm StarrTech Interactive.

QMark and StarrTech, established in 1996, employ about 25 people. The advertising and public relations business of Starr Seigle employs about 35.

Combined, Starr Seigle, McNeil Wilson and Laird Christianson will have about 140 employees and annual gross capitalized billings of about $90 million.

"A major benefit of this union will be the impressive capabilities and talented people that are being brought together in a single organization," McNeil Wilson co-founder David McNeil said in a statement.

The acquisition will result in a new holding company with four operating subsidiaries: McNeil Wilson Communications Public Relations, Laird Christianson Advertising, QMark Research and StarrTech Interactive. Starr Seigle will dissolve and its advertising and public relations incorporated into Laird Christianson and McNeil Wilson.

The holding company will be led by McNeil as chairman and Dennis Christianson as CEO. Christianson also will become president of Laird Christianson, replacing Buck Laird who will primarily be responsible for integrating operations as managing director of the holding company.

David Wilson, the other McNeil Wilson co-founder, will be vice-chair of the holding company.

David Koch, president and CEO of Starr Seigle, will become an executive vice president of Laird Christianson and a director of the holding company.

Among the many clients of the conglomerate are the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines, Kaiser Permanente, Longs Drugs, Marriott International, Pearlridge Center, Polynesian Cultural Center and Roberts Hawaii.

Of the firms being integrated, Starr Seigle traces its history back the furthest to 1956 when Allan Starr founded A.D. Starr Advertising. By 1983 the firm then called Starr McCombs Koch merged with Seigle Rolfs & Wood to become the largest marketing and communications firm in the state for more than a decade.

McNeil Wilson was established in 1982. The company and Laird in 1989 co-founded Laird McNeil Wilson Advertising, which became Laird Christianson in 1993 when Christianson joined as partner.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.