RAIT Buys Majority Stake in Denmark's Wilke

Baltic States-based full-service MR firm RAIT has acquired a 70% stake in Danish research firm Wilke, creating what the firms call a 'truly Northern European network'.

Wilke's projects include CXM, performance tracking, pricing and product development and use methods including customer interviews, focus groups, mystery shopping, product tests and online tracking surveys. The firm currently has 50 employees, and focus group facilities in offices in Odense, Aarhus and Copenhagen; a 50-seat CATI center; 300 mystery shoppers nationwide; and a proprietary online panel with 50,000 panelists. It has a turnover of DKK 60m.

Between them the firms cover Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Baltic countrie; while RAIT's partnership with XM company Synopticom, in which it acquired a majority stake last year, has already expanded its position in the XM field.

Wilke MD Stine Halberg (pictured) comments: 'Joining forces with RAIT marks a pivotal moment for Wilke. Our combined strengths pave the way for enhanced research capabilities in Northern Europe, and we're eager to explore the opportunities this partnership brings'.

Terms of the buy were not disclosed.

Web sites: www.raitgroup.com and www.wilke.dk .