Healthy First Quarter Growth at Ipsos

The Ipsos group has just posted healthy looking revenue figures for the first quarter 2002. Income reached 108.4 million euros for the period, a 14% increase year-on-year.

The company believes that its growth has been significant in most of its sectors of specialisation. For example, marketing and advertising research - accounting respectively for 52% and 22% of the Group's consolidated revenues - increased by 21% and 17% year-on-year. In particular, the group achieved strong performance in advertising research (14% organic growth) through Ipsos-ASI, the Group's dedicated global brand.

In other sectors of specialisation, growth appears to have been satisfactory, except in the case of media research. The drop in the advertising revenues of major media groups affected this activity, usually accounting for 10% of the Group's turnover. It should be noted that all major audience measurement contracts conducted by Ipsos mainly in Europe and Latin America are dealt on a pluri-annual basis.

Activity in North America is deemed to have been consistently good, and now accounts for 43% of the Group's revenues. It is also considered to have proved satisfactory in Latin America, despite the Argentine crisis. In Europe, Ipsos revenues for the first quarter remained steady on a like for like perimeter. Activity was affected by the fact that the company has interrupted its operational co-operation with Jupiter MediaMetrix in Internet audience measurement. In addition, French operations experienced a difficult start of the year, due largely to the usual caution of market research buyers during the months that precede major elections.

In terms of prospects for the second quarter, the group predicts that its growth rate should be close to that of the first quarter. However, organic growth should accelerate this summer. On the basis of this, the Ipsos co-chairmen say they feel confident the agency will reach its 2002 objectives, with organic growth reaching at least 8% as well as an improved operating margin.

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