Ipsos Bids for German Public Sector Researcher infas

Ipsos has announced it is bidding to acquire infas Holding AG, which offers market, opinion and social research in Germany. The firm's main shareholders, representing more than three quarters of its ownership, have already said they support the buy.

Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, infas is based in Bonn, has more than 300 employees and generated around EUR 50 million in revenue in 2023. Its main shareholders, representing about 77.52% of the ownership structure, have already given their support to the acquisition.

The company, described by Ipsos as 'the industry leader in German public sector research', conducts research for companies, public bodies and political parties, including customised national and international studies on subjects such as the labour market, education and transport. Ipsos currently has more than 500 staff in Germany, based in five locations - Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Nuremberg.

The price of the proposed voluntary public takeover is EUR 6.80 perr share, valuing the company at EUR 61.2m. If successful, it will allow the Paris-based global group to offer clients 'an even broader range of innovative research services' in the country, under the name Ipsos infas. Global CEO Ben Page states: 'The new combined entity will be one of the largest players in Germany, which is a key strategic growth market for Ipsos, and will benefit from enhanced expertise, expanded customer reach, and significant synergies. This transaction aligns perfectly with our 2025 strategic objectives, particularly our commitment to strengthen our leadership position in serving governments and public sector clients. Both Ipsos and infas share a client-centric approach and a dedication to innovation, ensuring a strong cultural fit and a seamless integration. We are confident this acquisition will create substantial value for the shareholders'.

Menno Smid, CEO of the German firm says the buy, if successful, will be 'a logical evolution' for infas. He continues: 'Both companies have built their reputations on their commitment to customer focus, methodologically rigorous research, and delivering insights that have a real-world impact. This merger would allow us to amplify these strengths on a European and global scale and leverage the combined expertise of both teams to shape the future of market, opinion and social research'.

Documentation on the offer, which also remains subject to merger authority approvals, is available at www.2024-offer.com . Ipsos' home page is at www.ipsos.com .