August 1, 2011
Willkie advises Ipsos and its reference shareholder, LT Participations, on all debt financing aspects of the transaction.
On July 27, global research firm Ipsos announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Board of Directors of Aegis Group plc to acquire 100% of Synovate, Aegis’s market research business (excluding Aztec) for an enterprise value of £525 million (€595 million). Willkie advised Ipsos and its reference shareholder, LT Participations, on all debt financing aspects of the transaction, including the new €250 million facility. The acquisition is expected to create the third largest global market research company. With 9,500 employees in 67 countries, Ipsos is world’s fifth largest global research firm. Synovate is the market research unit of Aegis Group, one of the world’s leading marketing communications firms. The deal was handled by partner Eduardo Fernandez, special European counsel Paul Lombard and associate Virginie Sayag.
