Catinét will transfer its fieldwork department to Norstat and the firm’s 85,000-strong online panel will be integrated into Norstat’s. The resulting online panel will contain 350,000 members and is being touted as the largest telephone-recruited internet panel in the Nordic region.

In a statement Catinét said it is outsourcing its fieldwork to concentrate on its CEM Intelligence service, which focuses on “streamlining and enhancing the applicability of research at the client end”. The firm’s founder and CEO Christian Stjer said he had “screened the market” to find a suitable outsourcing partner before selecting Norstat, which he said “represents the same level of quality and efficiency” as his firm.

Norstat managing director Jesper Platz (pictured) said: “Catinét has been one of our toughest competitors in the Danish market, throughout our existence, and it is a competitor for which I have the greatest respect.

“By this agreement, Norstat will strengthen its presence in the Danish market through increased capacity and competence, to the benefit of both Norstat’s and Catinét’s clients. By merging Catinét’s and Norstat’s panels we are creating a unique product together in a Nordic context and we will be able to carry through even the most demanding projects.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.