Taverner Buys IRIS Research in Australia

In Australia, full-service market and social agency Taverner Research has acquired Wollongong-based economic, community and industry specialist IRIS Research. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Founded in 1981, IRIS Research has both a regional presence in the Illawarra and NSW South Coast regions, and a background of servicing a wide variety of Australian government, business and community sector clients across NSW and Queensland. According to Taverner, the acquisition is part of its strategic approach to building its regional Australia market research capability and presence; with the combined business able to offer 'the industry's largest' benchmarking capabilities.

The deal follows the takeover of Coffs Harbour-based Jetty Research in 2019. IRIS Research will continue to operate from Wollongong under its own brand name, but now with access to Taverner's technologies, analytical methodologies, skills, knowledge and experience.

IRIS CEO Peter Watts (pictured) says the deal brings new scale and scope to research that the firm could not achieve alone. Taverner MD Michael Trigwell adds: 'The addition of the IRIS Research team to the Taverner Research group is the next exciting step in the progression and growth of our organisation. By adding the team at IRIS Research we are expanding our capabilities for the benefit of current and prospective clients of our portfolio of research brands'.

Web sites: www.taverner.com.au and www.irisresearch.com.au .