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Ipsos First Half Revenues Rise 5.6%

July 28 2011

Fresh from announcing its deal to buy Synovate, Ipsos has achieved organic growth of 6.3% in the first half of the year, reporting a 5.6% increase in revenues to EUR 558.2m.

Revenue growth was down slightly compared with the first quarter, because of an 'unfavourable' currency effect (0.9%), and because of the integration of Panamanian company TMG. Adjusted net profit rose 16.8% year-on-year to EUR 37.4m.

In million euros H1 2011 H1 2010 Change Full-year 2010
Revenue 558.2  528.8 +5.6%  1 140.8 
Gross profit 361.8  333.0 +8.6% 722.7 
Gross margin 64.8%  63.0%    63.4%
Operating margin 46.9 43.0 +8.9% 119.5
Operating margin / revenue 8.4%  8.2%    10.5%
Net profit (attributable to the Group) 27.6  23.4 +17.8%   66.2
Adjusted net profit*
attributable to the Group
37.4  32.0 +16.8%   86.1


By Region

First half growth was 14.2% in emerging markets, and only 3.1% in developed markets. Following the tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan in March, revenues in the country fell by 23%, but sales of new projects have since returned to a 'more or less' normal rate. In the UK, revenues fell 15% due to budgetary cuts in the public sector, while sales improved during the second quarter.

By region, Ipsos' performance did not vary much between the first and second quarters, with the Asia-Pacific region leading the way, despite the poor performance in Japan.

Consolidated revenues by geographic area
(In million euros)
H1 2011 H1 2010 Change
2011/2010
Organic Growth
Europe, Middle East and Africa 247.7 242.1 2.3% 2.5%
Americas 245.4 232.1 5.8% 8.5%
Asia-Pacific 65.1  54.6 19.1%  15.5%
First-half revenues 558.2 528.8 5.6% 6.3%



By Business Line

By business line, the firm reports a 'strong overall performance', with the one exception of the Opinion & Social Research business, influenced by cuts in the UK.

Consolidated revenues by business line
(In million euros)
H1 2011 H1 2010 Change
2011/2010
Organic Growth
 Advertising Research 121.7 118.1 3.0%  6.5% 
Marketing Research 253.6 242.2  4.7% 8% 
Media Research 62.3  50.6  23.1% 12.5% 
Opinion & Social Research 61.3 66.5 -7.8% -9%
Customer Relationship
Management Research
 59.3  51.4 15.4%  14.5%
First-half revenues  558.2 528.8 5.6%  6.3% 



The Synovate Acquisition

Yesterday, Ipsos agreed to acquire Synovate for £525m (EUR 595m), creating the world's third largest market research company. The deal is to be funded with cash, new debt financing, and a rights offering to Ipsos shareholders.

Ipsos says it is making the acquisition to better meet the new needs of its clients by improving its geographical coverage, and to expand its resources and become more efficient.

The company also says it needs to invest more in the use of technologies that allow for better measurement and understanding of people, and to offer its clients more experience, more professionals, more methodologies and more expertise.

In a statement, Ipsos states: 'Over the next few months, we will draw up our plans with the teams at Ipsos and our new colleagues from Synovate. Subject to the agreement of Aegis's shareholders and that of the antitrust authorities of certain countries, Ipsos' 10,000 professionals are preparing to welcome the 6,000 professionals from Synovate, working together to achieve one aim: to be our clients' partner of choice in our chosen areas of expertise.'

Ipsos, as it currently stands, is anticipating organic growth of more than 6% in 2011.

Web sites: www.ipsos.com and www.synovate.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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