DACH Firms Integral, Sinus and Opinion Merge

Central European research firms Integral, Sinus and Opinion have merged to form ISO, described as 'a medium-sized group, owner-managed and independent'.

Integral is based in Vienna, Sinus (in which Integral acquired a majority stake in 2009) in Heidelberg and Berlin, and Opinion in Nuremberg. The companies say the merger aims for mutual enrichment of competences; market expansion and risk diversification; and the creation of new perspectives for the future. The group works with a number of partner firms both nationally and internationally, including global network The Research Alliance, of which Opinion is a member.

The three firms - with a combined hundred years' experience - will continue to operate independently in the market, while 'benefitting from complementary competencies and offerings, as well as a synchronised corporate philosophy that focuses on high quality and the satisfaction of clients and employees'. Opinion's strengths include international know-how in the ad hoc and FMCG sector, particularly product and concept tests and tracking studies; while Integral brings in-depth knowledge of the financial services and telecommunications sectors, and of customer satisfaction and advertising research; and Sinus of qualitative market and social research, strategic trend and target group research including tailored Sinus-Milieu segmentation models.

Combined, the companies have turnover of more than EUR 13 million and more than 80 staff. In a statement, the three said: 'Our motto is: To break new ground together and achieve new levels of success, without giving up the identities of the three institutes'. Rolf Körling (pictured left), founder and Managing Director of Opinion, says the firms 'have been discussing this topic on a friendly basis for several years, and have now put our money where our mouth is'.

Web sites are at www.integral.co.at , www.sinus-institut.de and www.opinion.de .


From left to right: Opinion's Rolf Körling, Sinus' Manfred Tautscher and Integral's Bertram Barth