Bundeskartellamt clears takeover of infas by Ipsos

The Bundeskartellamt has cleared plans by Ipsos Dach Holding AG to acquire all the shares in infas Holding AG.

Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt: "The merger between Ipsos and infas essentially concerns the area of social research and opinion polling, where infas already has a strong position. Nevertheless the project could be cleared. While Ipsos is a large market research company, it has so far been active only to a limited extent in social research in Germany. The merger will therefore have only limited impact on the market structure in this area."

Through its subsidiaries, Bonn-based infas Holding AG has been active for decades in market and social research as well as opinion polling. infas focuses on conducting social research studies on issues such as working conditions, education, income and housing situation, health, mobility, families and households, etc. These studies are commissioned by federal and Länder ministries, research institutions and institutes, foundations and other public bodies.

Ipsos Dach Holding AG is part of the French Ipsos group. The Ipsos group is a global market research and consulting company which is also active in Germany in market and social research as well as opinion polling.

The Bundeskartellamt closely examined the merger and surveyed a large number of competitors and public contracting entities. It found that social research, including opinion polling, constitutes a segment of its own which is to be distinguished from market research and that the target company, infas, has a strong position in this segment. However, the merger would result in only insignificant market share additions. In addition, the market continues to have significant competitors and there is a realistic possibility of new competitors entering the market. The relevant contracts are usually awarded in tender procedures. For smaller companies it is also possible to jointly apply for contracts as a bidding consortium.