Ipsos Cleared to Buy Germany's infas

German authorities have cleared the acquisition of market, opinion and social research company infas by global group Ipsos. A voluntary public takeover offer process was launched in August, following agreement by major shareholders, and the deal should now be completed within days.

infas is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, infas is based in Bonn, has more than 300 employees and generated around EUR 50 million in revenue in 2023. Ipsos announced in the second half of August that was bidding to acquire the company, and said shareholders representing more than three quarters of its ownership had already given their support.

On completion of the deal Ipsos will operate in Germany under the name Ipsos infas, and will boast around 800 employees across six locations. Ipsos will hold 96.6 % of the shares and will then implement the 'squeeze-out procedure' for remaining small shareholders, required under takeover law if the company is to be integrated.

Ipsos Global CEO Ben Page comments: 'With this strategic move, we continue to reinforce our pivotal position in public sector and government research, with 4 acquisitions in this space since 2023. Ipsos infas will bring our German clients global reach and local expertise across both public and private sectors'. Dr Christoph Preuß, CEO of Ipsos Germany says the buy reflects the group's 'commitment to helping its clients understand German society's evolutions', while infas CEO Menno Smid (pictured) says the combination 'will find an environment in which infas' special expertise for challenging and complex studies in social research and the associated high quality standards are understood and valued - to the benefit of clients, employees and panelists'.

Web site: www.ipsos.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.