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Ipsos Buys MRBI
Ipsos has agreed to acquire 100% of Market Research Bureau of Ireland Limited (MRBI) from WPP, which was required to sell it for competition reasons by an EC ruling. Terms were not disclosed.
The deal is still subject to EC antitrust approval.
MRBI was founded in 1962 and acquired by TNS in 1996, becoming part of WPP with TNS' acquisition last year. With 34 full-time staff, it works in various sectors but is strong in polling, media audience measurement and stakeholder management research. Its main business in custom quant research is now enhanced by a significant panels business and a strong qualitative team.
For Ipsos, the Irish market is still relatively new - it first entered with the acquisition of Mori MRC in 2005. Ipsos Co-President Didier Truchot comments: 'MRBI has an excellent reputation in the industry for the quality of its work over a long history. We are delighted to welcome MRBI's team, whose talent, experience and long lasting relationships with local clients will greatly benefit the Ipsos group.'
MRBI MD Damian Loscher says the deal and Ipsos' strength in public opinion, media, customer loyalty and communications research create obvious synergies and will allow the firm 'to bring new and innovative thinking and techniques to the Irish market and to our clients.'
Yesterday, UK subsidiary Ipsos-MORI sent a note to employees raising the possibility of voluntary unpaid leave to help control costs - a move apparently not mirrored elsewhere in Ipsos.
Headquartered in Paris and with offices in more than 60 countries, Ipsos is online at www.ipsos.com .
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