Japanese Acquisition for Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive has acquired M&A Create Ltd, a Tokyo-based market research and consulting firm. Previously, Harris Interactive and M&A Create were partners in Harris Interactive Japan (HIJ), a joint venture that was created in February 2000.

This merger of the two companies is expected to produce revenues of approximately US$5.0 million during fiscal year 2002. The new company will operate as Harris Interactive Japan Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Harris Interactive Inc.

The acquisition of M&A Create, along with the acquisition in August of UK based Market Research Solutions, completes the Harris Interactive effort to form operating bases in the lucrative Asian and European markets. (It is estimated that more than 75% of global market research revenues are located in these two markets). Including the pending merger with Total Research of Princeton New Jersey, Harris Interactive will reach fiscal 2002 European and aggregate non-U.S. revenues of over US$22 million and US$35 million dollars respectively.

According to Gordon S. Black, chairman and CEO of Harris Interactive, "The acquisition of M&A Create forms a significant base of operations in Tokyo, to match our capabilities in London. Our goal this year is to substantially add to our online panels in Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and this acquisition is a major step in completing that objective."

Minoru Aoo will continue to serve as the Managing Director of Harris Interactive Japan. "Internet-based market research is on the brink of rapid expansion in Japan. We believe that Harris Interactive's leadership in this emerging field will open up significant new opportunities for both conducting research in the United States for Japanese companies and conducting research directly in Japan."

In addition to performing Internet-based research in Japan, HIJ will conduct research in the United States and in other countries for Japanese clients. Harris Interactive Japan will offer a full range of research and consulting services including strategic consulting, new product testing, customer satisfaction studies, and market opportunity identification using Internet based and traditional marketing research methodologies.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

• Harris Interactive Inc.
• All news
• MrWeb info