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GfK's Latin America Moves
GfK has expanded its presence in South America by acquiring a majority stake in MR companies Merc in Mexico and KleimanSygnos in Argentina. The group plans to extend its services in the area further to include healthcare, retail and technology research in addition to the current custom research offerings.
Marcelo de Fuentes, who owns 49% of Merc, continues in his capacity as MD. At KleimanSygnos, Mónica Kleiman and Norah Schmeichel now have a minority shareholding in the company, and both will continue to act as joint MDs.
The two new acquisitions follow a spate of other activity in the region:- In May 2005, GfK acquired 51% of MR company Adimark in Santiago de Chile.
- In July 2004, the group increased its holding in GfK Indicator in São Paulo, Brazil from 19.9 per cent to 95 per cent.
- In June 2004, it opened GfK Marketing Services Brazil in São Paulo, Brazil and GfK Marketing Services Chile in Santiago de Chile. GfK Marketing Services Argentina will launch shortly.
GfK has plans for Merc, KleinmanSygnos, Adimark and GfK Indicator to start offering healthcare research 'as soon as possible'. GfK Marketing Services companies provide retail and technology research.
Petra Heinlein, a GfK Management Board member, explained that the expanded presence in the region 'gives us the opportunity to provide GfK's services in this region to clients with global operations, and also to offer them local market expertise through GfK companies'.
The company is online at www.gfk.com
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