IPT sells research businesses

UK-- Direct marketing group Interactive Prospect Targeting (IPT) has sold off its UK market research businesses, Tpoll and Integra Insight.

Insurance industry specialist Integra has been sold to customer and competitor research agency Consumer Intelligence for £21,043, while online research agency Tpoll has been bought out by directors Mark Ursell and Michael Donovan for £215,618.

IPT said that the firms were two of its “remaining non-core businesses” and that the proceeds of the sale would be used for the group's “ongoing requirements”.

Also part of the Tpoll management buyout was sister company Stimulating World Research, which specialises in qualitative strategic research.

IPT put the agencies, along with the rest of its UK businesses, up for sale in mid-September and its core customer acquisition and list rental business was soon bought by turnaround investment firm Volvere.

The sell-offs followed an operational review which IPT embarked on after a poor financial performance in 2007.

Author: James Verrinder