Ipsos Boost Profile With MORI Merger
Research and analysis firm Ipsos has announced the purchase of rival MORI in a deal worth £88 million, bringing the famous research brand under its control and renaming it Ipsos Mori.
The acquisition significantly expands Ipsos’ capabilities in the UK, as well as widening its abilities in the European and global markets.
MORI’s reputation is well established in Britain, with the company’s Social Research Institute the largest private sector provider of social and political research in the country. The company is perhaps best known for its work in conducting exit polls over the last three General Elections for ITV News.
The company’s Corporate and Consumer division provides a range of syndicated and custom research services to business managers, while its Specialist Research operations provide services to the financial industry, enable PR evaluation and provide strategic consultancy.
In addition, MORI’s field and telephone research services provide an in-house data collection solution, with the company as a whole recording revenues of £44.2 million in 2004 with operating profit of £5.6 million.
The firm joins the Ipsos fold in good shape. Between 2000 and 2004, MORI’s compound annual revenue growth was 13.2% whilst the UK research market grew at a compound annual rate of 4.7% over the same period. The company currently employs approximately 460 workers across its headquarters in London and offices in Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast and Dublin.
The deal will almost double Ipsos’ current UK operations in terms of revenue, and more importantly, will establish the combined Ipsos and MORI as the number 2 research brand in Britain.
Under the acquisition, Ipsos UK chief executive Richard Sillman will become executive chairman of the combined group, while Brian Gosschalk, chief executive of MORI, takes the role of chief executive in the new firm.
Commenting on the merger, Gosschalk said: “We are excited about the opportunities which flow from bringing together our two businesses. Both have strong momentum, and the combination will be well placed to solve the needs of our evolving client base.
“The private sector side of our business will benefit from Ipsos’ strong global network and the merged business will have a powerful Public Affairs and special research offering. With their independent heritages the two businesses also enjoy a good cultural fit.”
Ipsos currently works closely with several companies providing media trading currencies in the UK, including RAJAR, NRS and BARB.
Ipsos: www.ipsos.com MORI: www.mori.com