BrainJuicer Expands to Switzerland and Australia

Online research agency BrainJuicer has opened an office in Switzerland, while also announcing plans to acquire Melbourne-based market research firm The Slater Marketing Group.

CEO John Kearon says that by opening the new office in Lausanne, the firm will be in a position to tap into the significant number of multi-national companies which have their European head offices in Switzerland.

Mark Johnson, who will head the office, joins with more than ten years' experience in consumer insight and market research. He previously held positions at research and innovation consultancies in London and Paris, and for the past three years, has worked for Cereal Partners Worldwide (the joint venture between Nestlé and General Mills) in Lausanne.

'Our physical presence in Switzerland will give us greater ability to grow our client base, and we are delighted to have attracted someone of Mark's calibre to establish this office,' stated Kearon.

Meanwhile in Australia Slater has signed a strategic licensing deal which will allow it to sell BrainJuicer's services in Australia and New Zealand on a profit share arrangement. BrainJuicer has purchased 3.64% of Slater and agreed to purchase the remainder of the business once pre-agreed financial targets have been met, for a total consideration of $AU 2.2m.

Kearon explains that the staged structure of the transaction allows his firm to enter this new market in a phased manner. He comments: 'Slater is an ideal fit for us, both in terms of its ethos and its client base. The agreement will have considerable benefit for both parties, as our innovative products will enhance Slater's current offering, and Slater will give BrainJuicer access to this new territory.'

Web site: www.brainjuicer.com .

In March, BrainJuicer's audited results for the year ended 31 December 2007 showed organic revenue up 42% to £6.57m and operating profit up 77% to £844,000.