Ipsos 'Back on Track' with 3pc Organic Growth

Ipsos has reported 2016 revenue of EUR 1,782.7m, virtually the same as in 2015 but representing 3 percent organic growth - currency effects cancelled out the growth in the Euros figure.

The global group said this was accompanied by 'other positive signs' including growth in gross profit and double-digit growth in 'New Services' launched under the 'New Way' programme. However adjusted net profit fell 3.9%to EUR 121.7m due, says Ipsos, to an increase in current income taxes.

Performance across regions and business lines was well-balanced, with organic growth of 5% in Asia Pacific, 3% in EMEA and 2.5% in the Americas. These regions represent c.43%, c.40% and c.17% of total revenue, respectively. The results represent a substantial improvement on a year previously, when revenues fell 1% in real terms, including a weak performance from media and ad research business Ipsos Connect - the division, which was then quite recently formed, reported a 6.5% drop in organic growth which Ipsos says reflected teething problems following the merging of units.

Fourth quarter 2016 revenue was EUR 517.4m, down 1.8% from the same period in 2015 but again due to the effect of currency changes, otherwise revenue would have grown slightly despite the sale of agribusiness research activities in the US (Ipsos Agriculture and Animal Health, bought by kynetec).