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GfK Buys in Turkey, Switzerland, France and Brazil
GfK has made a series of acquisitions, including Turkish market research firm Bilseim International, the remaining 35% of Swiss oncology specialist GfK Research Matters, the Brazilian MR company Shopping Brazil, and the watch panel set up by French MR agency Société V.
First on the list is GfK's expansion of its international Custom Research network through the purchase of Istanbul-based Bilseim International. Formed in 1984, the firm now becomes part of GfK Türkiye. In 2007, under the direction of Directors Cem Akyol and Hilmi Alişenoglu with support from its 52 employees, Bilseim International achieved sales of EUR 3.6m.
GfK first upped its stake in GfK Research Matters in January 2006, and has now acquired the final portion of the company to add to its Custom Research division. The company's 20-strong team is led jointly by Chris Krattiger and Wendy Giardina, and specialises in the healthcare sector and in particular oncology.
To add to the Retail and Technology sector, GfK subsidiary company IFR has acquired Shopping Brazil, a firm which records retail prices and monitors consumer durables' consumption on the shelves. The company, which employs a team of 50, was founded in 1999 and last year generated income of EUR 2.3m. It will continue to be led by Jose Roberto Resende under the brand name of Shopping Brazil.
Also adding to the Retail and Technology sector, subsidiary GfK Marketing Services France has purchased the watch panel belonging to French market research company Société V. The panel, which was set up 15 years ago, gives GfK access to retail research in France in addition to its existing service in Germany and Italy.
No terms of the investments were disclosed.
GfK recently confirmed a record year of trading in 2007, with organic sales up 5.8% to EUR 1,162m. Group web site: www.gfk.com .
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