Bilendi Buys UK Panel from Vision Critical

European-based Bilendi, which combines MR and online loyalty services, has agreed to acquire the Springboard UK access panel from Vision Critical, strengthening its online panels offering in the UK.

Springboard UK merges this week with the Maximiles.co.uk programme and the Springboard team will join the London office of Bilendi, which was itself known as Maximiles before rebranding last June. At the time, the firm said it aimed to 'put data insights firmly at the centre of its two core activities'. Last month, Bilendi announced it would acquire Nordic agency M3 Research for an undisclosed sum, and said the move would double the size of its research arm.

Following the latest deal, Vision Critical will continue to offer access panel services in the UK and elsewhere in Europe via Bilendi, which has offices in France, the UK, Germany and Morocco; as well as Denmark, Sweden and Finland via the M3 buy.

Bilendi CEO Marc Bidou comments: 'The Bilendi strategy in the Services for Market Research sector is to offer its customers the best access panel across Europe as well as the most innovative technology in the marketplace. Furthermore, the integration of the Springboard UK business reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, growth and expansion.'

The company says it generated revenues of EUR 16.6m in 2014 - an unaudited pro forma figure including the effect of integrating M3.

Web sites: www.bilendi.com and www.visioncritical.com .