Norstat, the leading data collector for market and social research in Northern Europe, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in ODC Services (ODC). Based in Munich, Germany, and with a sales office in London, ODC is a recognized, fast growing provider of field services for market research and opinion polling.

Established in Norway in 1997, Norstat has gradually expanded its geographical presence, and is represented with offices in all the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as Poland. This acquisition represents an important milestone in the Norstat Group’s strategy for European expansion.

Leading European data collector

Together, Norstat and ODC will form a leading European data collector, offering a full range of quality services. As a result of the acquisition, the clients of both companies will get access to online panels in 18 European countries and worldwide. Following the acquisition, the Norstat Group will be represented in 21 offices in 10 European countries, with more than 160 employees and 1500 interviewers employed on a part time basis. Both Norstat and ODC have a record of sound, profitable growth. In total, they genererate annual revenues of approximately 40 million Euro.

Unchanged position – strengthened offering

Focus and strategy remains unchanged as the companies seek to develop and expand their existing position as innovative high quality data collectors.

“We are pleased and excited to join forces with ODC. Being a highly recognized quality field provider, specialized within online research, ODC will add considerable value to Norstat’s full service offering. This includes a strengthened ability to facilitate and coordinate online studies. It will benefit respondents as well as clients, through increased efforts in Research and Development on panel strategy and online research”, says Are Strøm, CEO, Norstat.

“ODC and our clients will benefit from Norstat’s position, competence, methodologies and experience as a full service data collector. The integration with Norstat also creates exciting possibilities for further extension of our product offering. Besides the Norstat panels, ODC will access all traditional data collection methods offered by Norstat, as well as extended data processing capabilities”, says Christoph Irmer, CEO, ODC Services.