PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- IMS Capital Management today announced that Juniper Capital, an independent registered investment advisor with $65 million in assets based in Eugene, Oregon, has merged with IMS. Juniper was founded by Stephen Wendell, CPA, whose career history includes successful tenures as a senior executive and director of several Oregon-based companies. Among Mr. Wendell's most significant career achievements was his participation in a management-led sale of Bohemia, Inc., a forest-products company with operations in Oregon and California, to Willamette Industries in 1991. This transaction was among the largest forest-products consolidations in Oregon. Mr. Wendell served as Vice President and CFO at Bohemia from 1989 through 1991.
Mr. Wendell explained the decision to merge his advisory practice with IMS Capital Management as a fiduciary responsibility. "Not only do the investment professionals at IMS provide me with a deeper bench and greater depth of resources, but the firm itself has compiled a solid track record of performance over the past two decades. I am very pleased to become part of an organization whose reputation for integrity and investment expertise is widely recognized. I wouldn't be joining forces with IMS if I did not feel it was in the best interests of my clients."
According to Carl W. Marker, President of IMS Capital Management, "Juniper and IMS are a good fit because we have nearly identical values and philosophies regarding how to treat clients and how to manage money. Both firms offer three distinct investment strategies that match up very closely, which will result in immediate synergies. We also welcome Steve Wendell's contribution as a new member of the IMS investment team. His investment experience and extensive background as a senior financial executive in the private and public sectors will be very valuable to our fundamental investment research process."
IMS Capital Management, Inc. is a privately owned and operated investment boutique that was founded in 1988 by Carl W. Marker. With approximately $760 million in assets as of January 1, 2007, IMS serves investors and institutions through separate accounts and three no load mutual funds representing $272 million in assets. The acquisition of Juniper Capital adds a Eugene office location to IMS' existing offices in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Mr. Marker and Mr. Wendell established a connection in early 2006 when they realized they shared similar passions for investing and whitewater rivers.
The IMS Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and ongoing expenses must be considered carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Funds and is available at www.imscapital.com. Please read it carefully before investing. Unified Financial Securities, Inc., Distributor.