Leger Buys Majority Stake in Swiss Firm ISOPUBLIC

Canadian polling firm Leger Marketing has become a majority shareholder of Gallup Switzerland subsidiary ISOPUBLIC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The buy is Leger's fifth in the past ten years, after Criterion in Toronto, Criterion Research in Edmonton, Claros Research in Calgary and Arc Research in Philadelphia.

Founded in 1943, Schwerzenbach-based ISOPUBLIC offers a wide range of qual and quant methods along with telephone, face-to-face and online techniques. Its CATI studio employs around 160 staff who conduct interviews in French, Italian, Serbo-Croat, Portuguese, Turkish and English. The firm also has a panel with more than 50,000 active participants.

ISOPUBLIC CEO Matthias Kappeler, who will remain with the firm as President, already works with Jean-Marc Léger, President of Leger Marketing: the two are Vice President and President respectively of MR and polling association Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), which has a presence in 68 countries.

Léger comments: 'The acquisition of ISOPUBLIC is a strategic move for Leger Marketing, giving us access to international clientele based in Switzerland. Our presence in Europe also allows us to support our North American clientele in European markets.'

Web sites: www.legermarketing.com and www.isopublic.ch .