Marketing Research Institute International (MRII), The European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR), and the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education (UGA) have developed a Web-based version of the Principles of Marketing Research distance learning course. As a result of the strategic education alliance among MRII, ESOMAR and UGA, the course was recently enhanced to include international notes for each of the 10 study modules. The Web-based version of the course will expand the global reach of the program.
United Information Group has signed a three-year global agreement with SPSS MR, the New York-based market research business unit of Chicago-based SPSS Inc. The agreement standardizes the use of SPSS software across UIG member companies worldwide. UIG is the information division of United News & Media, an international media and information group. The division includes Audits & Surveys, Mediamark Research, Market Measures, and Nap.
Separately, SPSS MR has signed a contract with Dallas-based M/A/R/C Research, Inc. to expand the range of SPSS MR software used by M/ A/R/C in its survey design, data collection and analysis.
Montreal-based Info Zero Un has changed its name to Voxco Inc.
Forrester Research, Inc. has moved to 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, Mass.
Philadelphia-based RSVP Research Services has completed a new telephone research facility at Carrollwood Crossings, 4014 Gunn Highway, Suite 110, Tampa, Fla. The facility includes over 60 CATI equipped workstations, on-line sample management, and more.
Solana Beach, Calif.-based Answers Research, Inc. has opened an office in St. Louis. Kenny Kuhn will head the new office as director of business development.
IntelliQuest Information Group Inc., Austin, Texas, has closed the previously announced sale of its IQ2.net operations to Naviant Technology Solutions Inc. Of the sale price of $46.5 million, the company has received $44.5 million; $2 million has been placed into escrow pending determination of the net assets ofIQ2.net as of Aug. 31, 1999.
InterActive Solutions, Grand Rapids, Mich., has secured a contract to conduct marketing research for Whirlpool Corporation.
The M/A/R/C Group, Irving, Texas, has acquired a 30 percent interest in MSP Associates, with options over two years to increase its percentage ownership to 100 percent. MSP Associates, which generated approximately $2.0 million in revenues during 1998, is a marketing and sales force consultancy in Amsterdam specializing in the design and implementation of customer relationship management (CRM) programs for business-tobusiness clients. The investment is expected to be neutral to MI A/R/C's earnings in 1999. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Separately, Omnicom Group Inc. and M/A/R/C Inc. have announced a definitive merger agreement under which Omnicom - through its Diversified Agency Services (DAS) Division - will acquire M/A/R/C. In the transaction, M/A/R/C shareholders will receive $20 per share in an all-cash tender offer. The tender offer will be subject to the condition that at least two-thirds of the outstanding M/A/R/C shares are tendered and to other customary conditions. Holders of 20.5 percent of the company's shares have agreed to tender their shares in the offer. The boards of directors of both companies have approved the transaction. ING Barings LLC has provided the board of directors of MI A/R/C with an opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the common shareholders of M/A/R/C in the transaction. ING Barings LLC also served as financial advisor to M/A/R/C in this transaction.
In August, Harris Interactive, a Rochester, N. Y., research company, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York charging Greenfield Online, a Wesport, Conn., research firm, with unfair competition, defamation and disparagement. The suit alleges that assertions made by Greenfield Online at its Web site that it has the "world's largest Internet-based marketing research panel" are false and misleading and are damaging Harris Interactive by misrepresenting the nature, characteristics and quality of Greenfield Online's services. In the lawsuit Harris Interactive claims that Rudy Nadilo, president of Greenfield Online, falsely and publicly accused Harris Interactive of unethical activity, namely sending uninvited e-mail messages regarding surveys to respondents, known within the industry as "spamming," at an industry forum in Chicago, Illinois on July 8, 1999. "An accusation of spamming is damaging, and potentially ruinous to a company that depends on maintaining the highest reputation and goodwill with the Internet community," says Gordon S. Black, chairman and CEO of Harris Interactive. "Our legal system places high regard on the protection of a company's good name and reputation. We have full confidence that justice will prevail." Harris Interactive is seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial. Harris Interactive also seeks a declaratory judgment on issues related to this dispute. Greenfield Online President and CEO Rudy Nadilo issued the following statement in response to the lawsuit: "Greenfield Online was surprised to learn about the lawsuit filed by Harris Interactive, Inc. We are confident it is without merit. Our company is determined to ensure that the highest standards of integrity and professionalism are maintained when conducting research over the Web."
Desbrow & Associates, a Pittsburgh-based communication and design firm, has opened a market research division called Research Engine. Barbara "Bobby" Klein Womack has been named Research Engine's director of market research.
United Distillers and Vintners has chosen Chicago-based Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) as its syndicated market information supplier. The multi-year agreement includes weekly InfoScan data on distilled spirits, wines, coolers and cocktail mixes, as well as a range of analytical and delivery tools. Separately, IRI has reached an agreement in principle with Nabisco in which IRI will be Nabisco's primary syndicated information service provider in the U.S. through the year 2006. The pending contract encompasses all of Nabisco's domestic operating units.
Texas Qualitatiye, Inc. has opened a new focus group facility at 14503 Bammel N. Houston, Suite 100, Houston, Texas.
Promotion Insights, LLC, has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Leemis Marketing, Inc., Oakbrook Terrace, III. The agreement involves Leemis Marketing's selling and servicing, as well as enhancing product development of, Promotion Insights' BrandData competitive coupon intelligence database.
To expand its portfolio of products aimed at understanding consumer behavior, Catalina Marketing Corp., a St. Petersburg, Fla., target marketing firm, has acquired Alliance Research, Inc., a Cincinnati, Ohio, attitudinal research firm.
Advantage Research, Inc. has moved to new offices at W202 NI0246 Lannon Rd., P.O. Box 307, Germantown, Wis.
Market Strategies, Inc. has moved to 20255 Victor Parkway, Suite 400, Livonia, Mich.
IBM has selected London-based IRB International as a supplier of international business exhibition research. IRB will conduct postshow evaluations by phone with visitors to IBM booths at trade shows.
Caduceus Marketing Research, Mt. Arlington, N.J., is now offering PCN Online Omnibus Service, an Internet omnibus targeting primary care physicians.
ACNielsen Corp., Stamford, Conn., and NetRatings, Inc., Milpitas, Calif., have formed a venture to launch a global service for tracking audiences. advertising and user activity on the Internet. The venture. known as ACNielsen eRatings.com, will cover Europe, Asia-Pacific. Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and begin tracking Internet audiences and advertising by the end of the first quarter of 2000. ACNielsen has an 80 percent stake in the business, with NetRatings owning the remainder. In addition. ACNielsen will purchase a 10 percent stake in NetRatings for $12.5 million, and Michael Connors, ACNielsen's vice chairman, will be appointed to the NetRatings board of directors.
RONIN Corp., Princeton, N.J., is now offering the eBusiness Strategic Assessor on its Web site at www.ronin.com. The Assessor is a 10-minute survey which determines a company's relative ability to adopt new skills and strategies. The respondent is asked a series of questions about markets, competition, and current decision making. At the completion, respondents are gi ven an instant analysis of what areas are in line with their goals and what areas need improvement.