Ireland's largest opinion polling and market research company, Behaviour and Attitudes (B&A), has been bought by French giant Ipsos.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
As part of the deal, Damian Loscher, who was previously the Managing Director of Ipsos in Ireland, is to become President of the new combined entity, Ipsos B&A.
The Managing Director of B&A, Luke Reaper, is to become Chief Executive of Ipsos B&A, responsible for the day to day running of the company.
"This is a very exciting evolution," he said.
"B&A’s principles and research ethos clearly chime with those of Ipsos."
"The vision of the combined business is to deliver the highest quality of research and insight at a scale unparalleled in the Irish market. Clients will benefit from expanded operational resources and infrastructure, as well as leading analysis capabilities."
Damian Loscher said there are clear synergies in public and healthcare research between the companies, as well as in areas such as brand positioning and customer experience.
"The combination of highly skilled researchers who share common values, B&A’s extensive consumer panel and Ipsos’ range of digital techniques brings a new and distinctive offer to our clients in Ireland," he stated.
B&A was founded in 1985 and currently offers a range of opinion, social and market research services to clients in both the public and private sectors.
Ipsos initially entered the Irish market in 2005 when it bought Mori MRC.
Four years later it acquired MRBI, which it continues to own today.
Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos currently operates in 90 markets, employs 20,000 staff and is listed on the Euronext Paris.
