Javelin Strategy & Research, a research-based advisory firm specialising in digital finance, will expand Escalent’s retail and small business banking expertise within its financial services offering.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Javelin Strategy & Research analyses financial services and technology trends, and has clients in financial institutions, government agencies, payments companies, merchants, fintechs and technology providers.

Escalent CEO, Melissa Sauter, said: “This acquisition allows Escalent to provide its clients with a fully integrated customer experience in the new digital financial ecosystem, and it gives Javelin clients access to a bench of financial industry expertise and consulting for deeper, more comprehensive engagements.”

Javelin will retain its current office and will continue to use the same name.

Jacob Jegher, president of Javelin Strategy & Research, added: “We are eager to join forces with a firm that has a history of helping organisations solve complex strategic challenges. This union is an opportunity to create new analyst advisory services with an established team to be a leading source of consulting and thought leadership.”

Escalent was established last year as the new brand for Market Strategies International and Morpace which merged after they were acquired by private equity group STG Partners.