NPD Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Taylor Nelson Sofres Italian Perfumery Business

NPD has entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire TNS Infratest’s Italian Perfumery business, a subsidiary of international market information provider Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS). NPD anticipates a definitive agreement will occur later in October, following compliance with Italian labor law procedures. Separately, TNS Secodip, TNS’ subsidiary in France, said it will exit the Selective Beauty tracking business in France.

These developments strengthen NPD’s position as the leading provider of comprehensive sales tracking information for the Selective Beauty industry in Europe and the U.S. They are also an important step forward for NPD in its international expansion strategy.

With the acquisition and related transactions, manufacturers and retailers will benefit from a common information currency as NPD will offer both constituencies unparalleled data encompassing sales, market share, pricing, and more. Using the information, both retailers and manufacturers will be able to improve product development and marketing strategies, negotiate product placement deals, and measure their success.

The expansion of its Selective Beauty tracking service will enable NPD to offer the industry more consistent information to drive business decision making, including a uniform product classification scheme. Over time, NPD plans to offer its complete product portfolio, currently available in France and the U.S., in Italy. NPD information includes item-level detail and monthly and weekly reporting.

“This is an exciting step forward and paves the way for future expansion of our Selective Beauty business in Europe and Asia,” said Andy Tarshis, president of NPD Europe. “We’re committed to growing our business and moving into new markets in order to provide the industry with a more global resource to meet its evolving needs for information and insights.”

“Beauty tracking is a core business for NPD. We look forward to bringing our unique expertise and product portfolio to a new market,” said Martine Ringwald, Director, NPD Beauty Europe.