BVA Buys Italian MR and Polling Firm Doxa

France-based BVA Group, the parent of BDRC and PRS IN VIVO, has acquired Italian market research and opinion poll specialist Doxa from Alchimia Holdings. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Founded in 1946, Doxa employs a team of more than 140 data collection staff, analysts and interpreters in offices in Milan and Rome; has a network of more than 1,000 interviewers and 5,000 mystery shoppers; and a mobile community of 10,000 active digital consumers. Overall, the firm generates revenues of EUR 24m. Prior to the acquisition BVA and Doxa worked together through international MR group, the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).

BVA says this deal, which includes Doxa subsidiary DoxaPharma (but not Doxa's data-driven marcoms agency Connexia), is part of its growth strategy, which has already included the takeover of consumer insight firm BDRC, mystery shopping specialist Masters Consultants, and shopper research specialist PRS IN VIVO. This strategy involves a 'two-pronged' approach - diversifying into new businesses in France (design thinking, new technologies and communication), while ramping up an international presence with the recent acquisitions. The group currently generates revenues of close to EUR 200m, has 1,000 employees and a presence in more than twelve countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Doxa Chairwoman Marina Salamon says the merger with BVA will enable Doxa to acquire new skills and break into new markets. Pascal Gaudin, BVA Group CEO, adds: 'For us, Doxa was an obvious choice. We have a lot of things in common and that's essential for success in this merger. This acquisition is a key step in our project to build a European group'.

Web sites: www.bva-group.com and www.doxa.it .