Aegis Group has confirmed that it is in talks to sell its market research arm Synovate to French research group Ipsos in all global markets including Australia.
The UK-based marketing services group is currently split into Aegis Media - which includes Carat, Mitchell & Partners, Isobar, Vizeum, Posterscope and iProspect - and Synovate. The sale of Synovate would see the group focusing solely on its media businesses.
In Australia, Synovate has offices in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide. Managing director Gary Martin told AdNews that while Synovate Australia would be impacted by a potential sale "it would be premature and inappropriate for Synovate Australia to comment".
A release from Ipsos' head office in Paris and a statement from Aegis Group's UK head office have confirmed the sales talks.
The Aegis statement said the company "is in discussions with Ipsos in relation to a potential transaction regarding its market research business Synovate. There can be no certainty that any agreement will be reached."
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