The Oregon Business Association and Associated Oregon Industries announced earlier this month that they plan to merge into a new organization.

Despite three years of discussion on combining forces, what sealed the union was the groups’ success in defeating Measure 97, said Sam Tannahill, OBA chairman.

The groups used a measured and strategic approach to squashing the corporate sales tax measure, and they plan to continue in that vein next year, when legislators may consider new business taxes.

The groups have said they’re open to new business taxes on a few conditions, mainly that lawmakers reduce state pension benefits and target spending toward education and economic development.

In that spirit of controlled strategy, the groups are holding back from choosing a new name for their merger. Right now, they’re referred to as NewCo, but nothing will be official until 2018, after the groups have had their say in the 2017 legislative session.