Within two years after the IPO, Snyder had negotiated to acquire at least 14 companies In March 1997, SNC bought PromoTech Research Associates, a pharmaceutical marketing communications and direct marketing firm for an undisclosed sum. In December 1997, SNC agreed to buy Blau Marketing, a closely held direct marketing firm based in Wilton, Connecticut, for $72 million. It also bought two pharmaceutical contract sales organizations for a total of $58.5 million: Pharmflex for $34 million and Rapid Deployment Group Ltd. for $24.5 million. Pharmflex, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, and Rapid Deployment, of Winchester, England, provide sales services to pharmaceutical companies. In September 1998, acquired MKM Marketing of Munich, Germany for $58 million.