Archive
MB Funds sells its shares in Suomen Gallup
(MB Funds 30.1.2001)
The holding company of Suomen Gallup group, MDC Research Group Oy, has been acquired by Taylor Nelson Sofres plc ("TNS"), an international market information group with shares quoted on the London Stock Exchange. The sellers in the transaction signed today are MB Funds, Suomen Gallup management and Markkinointi-Instituutin Kannatusyhdistys.
TNS is the largest market information group based in Europe and the fourth largest according to worldwide statistics. The group's market research activities cover 80 countries and it has local presence in more than 45 countries.
Suomen Gallup will become part of the worldwide TNS group as a result of the transaction. Suomen Gallup will gain access to products and development resources of the group as well as its worldwide network. TNS group has no overlapping activities in Suomen Gallup's geographical markets in Finland, the Baltic countries and Russia.
The turnover of Suomen Gallup group for the financial year ending on 31 March 2000 was FIM 184.7 Million and the number of employees was 680, out of which 250 in Finland. In the share purchase agreement the price was set at 50.5 MEUR on a debt-free basis.