Fieldwork Group Norstat to Buy ODC Services

Norway-based fieldwork group Norstat has agreed to acquire a majority stake in European online data collection firm ODC Services. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Founded in 2005, ODC provides online data collection services including sampling and fieldwork through its proprietary panels at www.opinion-people.com . The Munich-based firm also has an office for UK clients, in central London.

Norstat says the acquisition will help its plans to expand its footprint from existing operations in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, while providing access to online panels in eighteen European countries and - through partners - in the rest of Europe and worldwide.

Following the transaction, Norstat will be represented in 21 offices in 10 European countries, with more than 160 employees and 1500 interviewers employed on a part-time basis.

Christoph Irmer, CEO of ODC, says the move will provide his firm with the opportunity to extend its product offering and allow it to offer access to traditional data collection methods and DP capabilities.

Norstat CEO Are Strøm comments: 'Being a highly recognized quality field provider, specialized within online research, ODC will add considerable value to Norstat's full service offering. It will benefit respondents as well as clients, through increased efforts in research and development on panel strategy and online research.'

Web sites: www.norstatgroup.com and www.odc-services.de .