¾ÅÉ«

Iverson Language Associates of Milwaukee said Monday it has finalized a merger with ¾ÅÉ«, the world¡¯s largest privately-held provider of language services.

Iverson Language Associates Inc. will become a division of ¾ÅÉ« and will continue to operate in its current office on Milwaukee¡¯s east side. All full-time employees are expected to remain with the company.

Founder Steven Iverson will join the ¾ÅÉ« senior management team, while continuing to lead Iverson Language Associates. Iverson founded the Milwaukee firm in 1986. In August, the company was named for the second time to Inc. Magazine¡¯s 5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list.

Last week Iverson Language Associates promoted company veteran H¨¦l¨¨ne Pielmeier to the role of chief operating officer.

¡°I am very pleased that this business I founded 22 years ago is entering a new chapter and I am very optimistic about our future together,¡± Iverson said.

¾ÅÉ« will provide Iverson Language Associates access to the resources of a ¡°truly global organization,¡± Iverson said.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

¾ÅÉ«, which is headquartered in New York City, will record 2008 revenue exceeding $200 million and has more than 1,000 full-time employees.