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Worldwide Buys for GMI
Online MR solutions company GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.) has announced the acquisition of three companies -- Seattle-based NetReflector, Insight in Shanghai, China, and MI Pro AS in Drobak, Norway, which will operate as wholly owned subsidiaries of GMI. GMI has also formed a new strategic alliance with ARO Sistemas in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
GMI says the acquisitions and partnership bring it 'one step closer to fulfilling its long-term vision aimed at delivering a consolidated operating system that links research suppliers, research buyers and respondents in real time, on a global scale'.
The buys give GMI advanced technology solutions, plus a direct foothold in the fast-developing Chinese market and centers in China, Europe and Latin America to complements its current offices in Bulgaria and India.
'Our acquisition strategy helps expand our global footprint and is just one example of how we plan to continue our rapid growth', said Rob Monster, founder and CEO of GMI. 'We already are a world player operating in 50 countries and in 32 languages. Our recent purchases and partnership underline our promise to offer customers a truly integrated technology platform for market research, regardless of geography or language'.
NetReflector delivers advanced survey solutions that measure customer satisfaction in real time - results can now be fed seamlessly into a GMI-hosted solution and store for future use. NetReflector President Villette T. Nolon, who will retain the title, says the two make an excellent match because of their 'complementary proprietary technology and services' which will provide end-to-end solutions for clients.
MI Pro AS is based in Drobak/Oslo, Norway and has offices in Stockholm, London and Cincinnati. GMI says its acquisition follows requests from its own MR agency clients for 'high-performance desktop analytics software that speaks the language of market research, doesn't require connection to the Internet, and provides a suitable alternative to SPSS'.
China's Insight and Brazil's ARO Sistemas will give GMI a local presence through service bureaux and consumer panels in the emerging markets. Insight uses a 100% proprietary online access panel and was formerly the exclusive distributor of SPSS MR software products in China. ARO Sistemas, founded in 2000, is a Brazilian IT consulting company providing technology and data processing expertise and applications for the media, advertising and market research industries.
GMI secured $13.2 million in funding in April this year and says this has been used both for organic growth and acquisitions. Its services now include Net-MR software, 24/7 service bureau capabilities, one of the world's largest panel operations, and the GMIPoll (www.gmipoll.com ), giving global opinions in real time. It is online at www.gmi-mr.com , while details of the other companies can be found at www.netreflector.com , www.mipro.no/ , www.gmi-mr.com/ch/index.phtml (Insight) and www.gmi-mr.com/pt/index.phtml (ARO Sistemas)..
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