GLASS'S Information Services, is to merge with Eurotax, a pan-European provider of automotive information - subject to formal clearance by the European regulatory authorities.

Private equity company Hicks Muse acquired Glass's Information Services in 1998 and one of its key objectives was to use Glass's as a platform for building a pan-European automotive information business. The combined sales of the two firms are about £50 million and cover 16 European countries.

The firms already co-operate in producing the Eurocarprice index and will now roll out each other's applications to customers.