Cint to Buy Majority Stake in DACH Panel Firm GapFish

Insight exchange and sample management platform Cint is to acquire a majority stake in Berlin-based MR company GapFish, which claims to operate the largest ISO-certified online panel community for the DACH (Austria, Germany, and Switzerland) region. Terms have not been disclosed.

Established in 2012 by Oliver Weyergraf (pictured), the founder of investment vehicle north-up, and the MR institute Innofact, GapFish conducts more than 2.5 million surveys annually across the DACH region. The company's panel offering includes 'Entscheider Club', with more than 400,000 panellists, 'TrendSetter Club', and shared panels ('Panel 360') with partners.

As part of the deal, GapFish's more than 40 employees will join the Cint group, and the two companies will be integrated under the Cint name. With the acquisition, Cint says it will be able to enhance its online sample offering to customers, giving access to an additional audience of more than 500,000 double-opt in research respondents across the DACH region.

Tom Buehlmann, CEO of Cint, says that the acquisition is the first step in Cint's strategy outlined in its IPO in February - to deliver a 'step-change in access to premium quality sample to customers through the Cint platform'. Weyergraf adds: 'Over the last eight years, we have focussed on being a technical innovator for modern market research solutions for out of home (OHH) research, customer journey tracking and advertising impact measurement for the DACH region. We are excited about joining forces with Cint to embark on a new journey to extend our services to even more customers around the world.'

Web sites: www.cint.com , www.gapfish.com and www.innofact.com .