Research is the Key to ICM Sale
April 2006
lyle@livingstonepartners.co.ukThe ICM Group, the UK’s leading independent market research agency, has been sold in a deal valuing it at up to £37.2 million to acquisitive marketing services group Creston Plc.
Under the guidance of its founders, Nick Sparrow, Kate Turner and Steve Parker, ICM has grown to become the UK’s largest independent market research agency, with particular strengths in technology, retail and financial research, and telephone polling. The business has built a prominent market position upon its high-profile opinion polling and representative sampling for clients including The Guardian newspaper, the BBC, Vodafone and Selfridges. In the year ended 30 June 2005, ICM’s turnover was £14.0 million and pre tax profits were £2.48m.
The Livingstone Marketing Services team was appointed by the shareholders to find a strategically and culturally compatible partner for ICM. After an exhaustive research process led by Livingstone analyst Michelle Holford, a small group of suitable buyers was identified and approached in a precisely targeted sale process.
Livingstone deal leader Daniel Domberger comments “The final decision by the shareholders rested on the incentivisation of the next generation of management. We opted for Creston as the cultural fit between the two organisations was superb. The offer itself was highly attractive to the shareholders, and the opportunities for growth within an acquisitive and rapidly-growing consolidator were, we felt, of critical importance to the next generation of managers.”
Nick Sparrow, Managing Director, ICM expands, “In Creston, we feel we have found an owner who is as keen as we are to see ICM grow and prosper and will act with us in the best interests of the company and all the people who work here. Livingstone Guarantee provided us with a superb service throughout the process.”
For further information contact:
Tim Lyle
T: +44 20 7484 4710
E: lyle@livingstonepartners.co.uk
Daniel Domberger
T: +44 20 7484 4731
E: domberger@livingstonepartners.co.uk
