In the first nine months of the year, the group’s adjusted operating income came to €118.8m, which is a 3.6% increase on the previous year. The margin was 10.6% after nine months, compared with 10.9% last year. The change has been attributed to ‘continued investments’.

“As intended, we have achieved moderate growth, and the figures are within our expected range,” said GfK’s CEO, Matthias Hartmann.” Also because of the sales that are now being generated through the TV research contract in Brazil, we are confident that we will achieve our annual targets.”

Full results can be found here.

• The group has also announced an agreement to sell its global animal and crop health division to a consortium consisting of Inflexion, a private equity investor, and the current management led by Stephen Hearn