Kantar Public, a leading global public policy advisory firm owned by Trilantic Europe, has announced the acquisition of PPMI, a prominent European policy research and consultancy company based in Vilnius, Lithuania.
This acquisition marks a significant step for both organisations as they aim to enhance their services in public policy advisory, evaluation, data analytics, and communications to support government, multinational corporations, and civil society clients worldwide.
The integration of PPMI into Kantar Public's operations will allow both firms to leverage their combined strengths to tackle some of the most complex and pressing public policy issues facing governments and public institutions around the globe.
The acquisition will allow Kantar Public and PPMI to enhance their public policy offerings by combining their expertise in delivering evidence-based insights and advisory services. Both organisations have a strong track record of supporting decision-making processes across government sectors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international institutions. By joining forces, they will be able to provide more comprehensive and data-driven solutions to public sector challenges, enabling more effective decision-making and sustainable outcomes.
Dr. Michelle Harrison, Global CEO of Kantar Public, said:
"I am thrilled that Haroldas Brožaitis and his excellent team at PPMI are joining us at Kantar Public. From our first meetings, the synergies in our purpose, strategy, ambition, and culture were remarkable. Our combined expertise in delivering evidence and advisory work across the public policy spectrum, and our shared recent history of technology investment to deepen our data and analytics capabilities, will take our ability to deliver to our clients to the next level."
Dr Harrison emphasised that the collaboration will accelerate innovation across both companies' areas of expertise, allowing them to co-create and deliver better services to their clients.
PPMI, founded in 2001, has established itself as a trusted partner for many EU and international institutions. Specialising in evidence-based public policy consultancy, PPMI boasts a team of over 100 in-house researchers from diverse backgrounds in political science, economics, sociology, and more. The company has been a pioneer in developing shared understanding among key stakeholders and enabling policy implementation that brings about positive change across the European Union and beyond.
Haroldas Brožaitis, Managing Director of PPMI, commented:
"Today is the start of the next exciting chapter for PPMI as we embark on our new relationship with Kantar Public. We have been a leading evidence-based insights and public policy consultancy since our inception in 2001. This partnership offers us the opportunity to create something special together, particularly as we face increasingly complex societal, economic, and environmental challenges across the public policy spectrum."
Brožaitis highlighted that PPMI’s purpose-driven culture and analytical expertise, combined with Kantar Public’s global reach, would enable both organisations to contribute to solving the world’s most pressing public policy challenges.
One of the key areas of synergy between Kantar Public and PPMI is their mutual investment in technology to strengthen data analytics capabilities. Both companies have been at the forefront of using cutting-edge technology to derive actionable insights from complex data sets. This collaboration will allow them to expand their research and advisory capabilities, particularly in data mining, behavioral analysis, and the use of advanced technologies for public policy solutions.
Antony Bellau, Managing Director at Trilantic Europe and member of Kantar Public’s Global Management Board, underscored the significance of the acquisition:
"PPMI is a fast-growing business, with deep expertise across public policy, technology-enabled data and analytics, and a fantastic team of dedicated specialists. Combined with Kantar Public's market-leading position, we are confident that both businesses will continue to go from strength to strength through this partnership."
The acquisition positions both Kantar Public and PPMI to become stronger players in the global public policy landscape, leveraging their complementary strengths in data-driven insights, policy analysis, and advisory services.
In a world where governments and organisations are grappling with increasingly complex societal, environmental, and economic issues, Kantar Public and PPMI’s collaboration is well-timed.
Public sector leaders need more comprehensive and reliable evidence-based insights to navigate challenges ranging from climate change to economic inequality. The partnership between Kantar Public and PPMI will help meet this demand by offering holistic and innovative solutions tailored to the needs of governments, NGOs, and multinational corporations.
This acquisition also aligns with Kantar Public’s mission to combine global best practices with local expertise. With offices across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the United States, Kantar Public has been at the forefront of delivering advisory services that blend human understanding with advanced technologies. PPMI’s experience in serving EU institutions and national authorities complements this approach, ensuring that both companies can provide more impactful solutions across a wider geographic area.
Following the sale of Kantar Public to Trilantic Europe from Kantar Group in 2022, Kantar rebranded in November 2023 and is now known as Verian. Kantar was advised by PwC Lithuania.
The financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed. CapEQ Baltics advised the shareholders of PPMI in Vilnius.