Background
      
            

On 14 May 2025, IPSOS, which specialises in polls, surveys and market research, notified the Autorité de la concurrence of its plan to acquire Xpage Group, parent company of the BVA group, also active in the market research sector.



At the end of its investigation, the Autorité has today cleared the transaction without conditions.
      
      

                
          
        
            The parties to the transaction



IPSOS is a French polling company founded in 1975 by Didier Truchot, its current Chairman, and is active more broadly in the market research sector. In particular, it markets survey-based research in a range of sectors for companies and institutions. It has an international presence in around 90 countries.



XPage Group is the holding company of the BVA group, founded in 1970 by Michel Brulé and Jean-Pierre Ville, who gave their names to the company: “Brulé, Ville et Associé” (BVA). Like IPSOS, BVA is active in surveys and market research in a number of sectors in many countries.

The Autorité de la concurrence ruled out any risk of harm to competition linked to the transaction in the markets concerned



In this transaction, the Autorité focused on customised market research services, i.e. research based on dedicated, tailor-made surveys carried out at the specific request of companies, institutions or public establishments, generally via a call for tender.



Following an investigation which involved consulting the main competitors of IPSOS and BVA, the Autorité did not identify any anticompetitive risks in the markets in which the companies compete. 



Whatever the market definition used, the combined market share of the parties to the transaction is below 25%, a threshold below which the markets concerned are presumed not to be affected. 



In addition, the investigation found the existence of numerous competitors in the relevant markets, including global operators (such as Kantar, IQVIA and Nielsen IQ) and recent entrants (such as Qualtrics, Medallia, Yougov, Behaviorally and Cluster 17).
      
      
      

                
          
        
          
            Decision 25-DCC-123 of 12 June 2025
      
          
            on the acquisition of full control of XPage Group (BVA group) by IPSOS 
      
        
                  
            
            The full text of the decision (in French) will be available soon
      
          
              
      

                
          
  
    Contact(s)
          
                
          
              
          
        
              


      
      
      
  
    
      
            Nicola Crawford
      
      
            Communication officer
      
    
    
      
            +33155040151
      
      
     Contact us by e-mail

French Competition Authority Approves IPSOS Acquisition of Xpage Group

On May 14, 2025, IPSOS, a prominent French polling and market research company, notified the French competition authority of its intention to acquire Xpage Group, which is the parent company of BVA, another player in the market research sector.

 After a thorough investigation, the French competition authority has cleared the acquisition without imposing any conditions. The authority focused on the market for customized market research services, which involves tailored surveys requested by companies and institutions.

 The investigation included consultations with major competitors of both IPSOS and BVA. The authority found no anticompetitive risks associated with the transaction, as the combined market share of the two companies remains below 25%, a level considered safe for competition.

 Furthermore, the investigation revealed a robust competitive landscape, with numerous competitors in the relevant markets, including global firms like Kantar, IQVIA, and Nielsen IQ, as well as newer entrants such as Qualtrics, Medallia, Yougov, Behaviorally, and Cluster 17.



French Competition Authority Approves IPSOS Acquisition of Xpage Group

The French competition authority has approved IPSOS's acquisition of Xpage Group, the parent company of BVA, without any conditions, citing no anticompetitive risks.