REG - YouGov PLC - YouGov completes the acquisition of GfK’s CPS

YouGovAnnouncement

09/01/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 0177Z  YouGov PLC  09 January 2024

 

9 January 2024

 

YouGov plc

 

("YouGov" or "the Group" or "the Company")

 

YouGov completes the acquisition of GfK's Consumer Panel Services

 

Extends YouGov's Offering with Established Leader in European Household FMCG
Consumer Insights

 

YouGov plc (AIM: YOU) ("YouGov"), the international market research and data
analytics group, is pleased to announce the completion of its acquisition of
the Consumer Panel Services of GfK GmbH ("CPS GfK"). CPS GfK is an
established leader in household purchase data, with panels across 18 European
countries, consisting of over 100,000 households.

 

As announced on 6 July 2023, YouGov agreed to acquire CPS GfK in an all-cash
transaction for a headline purchase price of €315 million. The transaction
was financed with proceeds from the equity raise completed in July 2023 and
our new €280 million term loan facility as announced on 2 October 2023.
YouGov's investment into a carefully planned and considered integration
programme will ensure a seamless transition for CPS GfK clients and colleagues
and enable both companies to capitalise on each other's strengths from day
one.

 

CPS GfK's capabilities are strategically aligned with YouGov, adding highly
engaged panels across the European market and technology to capture and
analyse consumer purchasing data. The acquisition will support our continued
growth by expanding our combined offering to existing clients in our current
markets, as well as the opportunity to win new clients and roll out into new
markets, including in the US which remains our key strategic growth focus.
YouGov has a long history of investing in innovative, new technologies and
products to drive long-term growth and continuing that journey with CPS GfK
will help our combined business to realise our vision of becoming a leading
provider of shopper, marketing and opinion data.

 

Steve Hatch, CEO of YouGov, commented:

 

"We are excited to welcome CPS GfK and its brilliant team to the YouGov fold.
The completion of this transaction is a notable step in fulfilling our mission
as a company to give the world a voice and to help organisations of all types
make better decisions by creating value for people and organisations around
the world.

 

"This acquisition enhances our customer value proposition with one of the
richest behavioral data sets on FMCG and Retail consumer insights. Together,
we're able to help our clients perfect the full shopper journey - across
advertising, location, and media - by understanding what consumers think, feel
and buy. This unmatched combination enables us to create more value for our
clients and partners than ever before and we look forward to working closely
with the CPS GfK team and clients."

 

Stefan Heremans, President, CPS GfK:

 

"For over 60 years, CPS GfK has provided clients with insight into what
shoppers buy and why they buy it. As we become part of the YouGov family, our
clients can expect the same quality data they have always enjoyed. We are now
excited that we will further deepen their relationships with us through
YouGov's exceptional data on consumer opinions, motivations, wants and media
habits.

 

"CPS GfK and YouGov have a lot in common - including our high-quality panels
where millions of people share their data with us every hour of every day and
our industry-leading data which provide clients with certainty. We look
forward to investment in our platforms, products and panellists, to give our
clients the most comprehensive view of the consumer journey across the region.
We're excited for this new chapter in our long history that creates more value
for people and for businesses around the world."

 

YouGov will update the medium-term financial guidance, as set out at its
Capital Markets Day in May 2023, to reflect this acquisition in due course.

 

 

Enquiries

 

 YouGov plc

 Steve Hatch, CEO                                               +44 (0) 20 7012 6000

 Alex McIntosh, CFO

 Hannah Jethwani, Investor Relations Director

 FleishmanHillard

 Julia Hipkiss                                                  +44 (0) 7827 896036

 Morgan Stanley (Lead Financial Advisor)

 Laurence Hopkins / Dominique Cahu / Conrad Griffin             +44 (0) 20 7425 8000

 Deutsche Numis (NOMAD and Joint Broker)

 Nick Westlake / Iqra Amin                                      +44 (0) 20 7260 1000

 Berenberg (Joint Broker)

 Mark Whitmore / Richard Andrews / Alix Mecklenburg-Solodkoff   +44 (0) 20 3207 7800

 

 

About YouGov

YouGov is an international online research data and analytics technology
group.

 

Our mission is to offer unparalleled insight into what the world thinks.

 

Our innovative solutions help the world's most recognised brands, media owners
and agencies to plan, activate and track their marketing activities better.

 

With operations in the UK, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, India and
Asia Pacific, we have one of the world's largest research networks.

 

At the core of our platform is an ever-growing source of consumer data that
has been amassed over our twenty years of operation. We call it living data.
All of our products and services draw upon this detailed understanding of our
26 million registered panel members to deliver accurate, actionable consumer
insights.

 

As innovators and pioneers of online market research, we have a strong
reputation as a trusted source of accurate data and insights. Testament to
this, YouGov data is regularly referenced by the global press, and we are the
most quoted market research source in the world.

 

YouGov. Living Consumer Intelligence.

 

For further information, visit business.yougov.com

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