Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 20, 2025) - RIWI Corp. (TSXV: RIWI) (OTC Pink: RWCRF) (the "Company" or "RIWI"), a market research platform, global trend-tracking and prediction technology firm, reported its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. All figures are reported in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. RIWI's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").RIWI Highlights for the quarter ended June ...

Company Overview - Ipsos has appointed Jean-Laurent Poitou as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2025, replacing Ben Page [2][10] - The company is one of the largest market research firms globally, operating in 90 markets and employing nearly 20,000 people [11] Market Dynamics - The market served by Ipsos is significant and dynamic, with strong demand from businesses and public institutions for timely and reliable data regarding their environments, markets, competitors, and performance [3] - There is an evolving demand for data that is produced securely and analyzed with precision, particularly in shorter timeframes, leveraging both human input and digital models [3] Strategic Positioning - The Board believes Ipsos is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of its clients due to its scale, expertise, geographic coverage, and service diversity, aiming to regain a higher growth trajectory [4] - Ipsos intends to play an active role in transforming its industry by enhancing its capabilities for rapid data production, analysis, and reporting [7] Leadership Transition - The decision to appoint a new CEO aims to provide Ipsos with the momentum needed to adopt and implement a credible growth plan [5] - Jean-Laurent Poitou brings over 30 years of experience in digital transformation and artificial intelligence from his previous roles at Accenture and Alvarez & Marsal [6] Future Vision - Poitou expressed his commitment to leading Ipsos into its next growth chapter, leveraging the company's strong reputation, quality teams, and existing initiatives in technology and artificial intelligence [9] - The company aims to build a differentiated market research firm powered by science and technology while maintaining its core values [10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q2 2025 was $111.7 million, a decrease of 8% compared to $121.8 million in Q2 2024 [22] - Research revenue was $77.9 million, down 7% year-over-year, while consulting revenue was $23.4 million, also down 5% [22][23] - Net income decreased by 24% to $9.8 million, with earnings per share at $0.51 compared to $0.68 in the prior year [27][28] - Operating income decreased by 24% to $13.7 million, representing 12.2% of revenue [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Research and consulting revenues improved from Q1, with declines of 5% compared to 11% in Q1 [20][21] - Events revenue was $10.2 million, a decrease of 23% year-over-year, despite increased attendance and satisfaction scores [25][26] - Client retention increased to 74%, up one point from the previous quarter [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - CV (contract value) declined by 7%, mirroring Q1 performance [21] - The government sector showed building momentum, with significant contracts booked with U.S. state and local governments and European federal agencies [8][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on enhancing its sales organization and improving the sales pipeline, with a 15% increase in the total sales pipeline from Q1 [10][46] - New research frameworks, such as Buying Networks and Total Experience Score, were introduced to strengthen market position [12][32] - The events business is being restructured to align with marketing efforts to drive contract value expansion [16][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed uncertainty in the economic outlook for the second half of the year but maintained margin and EPS guidance [8][30] - The company anticipates improved performance in the government sector and from its Forrester Decisions product portfolio [21][30] Other Important Information - The generative AI tool, iZOLA, has seen a 22% increase in clients using it, with prompts up 44% [18] - The company plans to reinstate its stock repurchase program in the second half of the year [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What initiatives are being taken to improve the event business and sponsorships? - The company is modernizing sponsorship offerings and ensuring sales teams are skilled in selling outcome-based experiences [35][36] Question: How is the trend for multiyear deals? - There is a positive trend in multiyear contracts, with 72% of contract value now in multiyear agreements, up eight points year-over-year [38][39] Question: Is the sales force fully ramped? - The sales force is still being built out, with 75% having over 25 months of experience, and attrition is in line with expectations [41][42] Question: How is the sales pipeline performing? - The sales pipeline increased by 15% quarter-over-quarter, but conversion rates need improvement [46][47] Question: What is being done to improve conversion rates? - The focus is on early involvement in the sales process and ensuring that potential buyers are committed to the purchasing process [53][55]

Core Insights - The report by CCID Consulting highlights that by 2025, the number of counties in China with a GDP exceeding 100 billion will increase to 62, with Shandong not adding any new counties but gaining three "quasi-100 billion counties" with GDPs over 90 billion [1][5]. Economic Distribution - The distribution of the top 100 counties in the 2025 CCID report shows a significant advantage for eastern regions, with Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shandong provinces standing out, occupying 25, 15, and 12 spots respectively [3]. - Shandong has 12 counties in the top 100, maintaining the same number as last year, with seven counties in the top 50, an increase of one from the previous year [5]. County Rankings - The top-ranked county in Shandong, Longkou, improved its position from 8th to 7th, while Taicang in Jiangsu dropped from 6th to 8th [5]. - The ranking methodology does not solely rely on GDP figures, as seen with Rongcheng, which has a GDP of 106.96 billion but ranks 40th, higher than Shouguang and Zoucheng with higher GDPs [5]. Employment Market Analysis - The report indicates significant disparities in job demand across Shandong's counties, with Longkou, Jiaozhou, and Rongcheng leading, collectively accounting for 38.21% of job demand [8]. - The employment market in Shandong shows a preference for counties with strong industrial characteristics, such as Shouguang, Tengzhou, and Caoxian, which together represent nearly 10% of job-seeking preferences [10]. Development Challenges - The report outlines that achieving high-quality development in counties requires addressing ten key relationships, including scale and structure, industry and development, and market and reform [11].

Core Insights - Ipsos reported a revenue of €1,155.0 million for the first half of 2025, reflecting a total growth of 1.5% despite a challenging macroeconomic environment [2][3] - The company experienced a return to organic growth in the second quarter, achieving 0.7% organic growth after a decline of -1.8% in the first quarter [3][4] - The CEO emphasized ongoing investments in technology and artificial intelligence, alongside a commitment to acquisitions, while maintaining cautious optimism regarding the macroeconomic context [4][35] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the first half of 2025 was €1,155.0 million, with a gross margin of 68.4%, slightly down from 68.5% in the previous year [17][21] - Operating profit decreased by 17.0% to €95.5 million, resulting in an operating margin of 8.3% compared to 10.1% in the same period last year [17][26] - Net profit attributable to owners of the parent was €53.2 million, down from €78.0 million in the previous year, with adjusted net profit at €72.2 million, a decrease of 12.3% [26][41] Performance by Region - EMEA region showed total growth of 6.3% in the first half, with organic growth of 0.8%, driven by the integration of infas in Germany [6][7] - The Americas experienced a decline of -2.3% in total growth, but organic growth improved to 0.6% in the second quarter, particularly in the United States [8][9] - Asia-Pacific faced challenges with a total growth decline of -3.6%, attributed to a lack of recovery in China and uncertainties in the region [9] Performance by Audience - The consumer segment reported organic growth of 0.5% in the first half, with a notable improvement to 1.6% in the second quarter [12] - The citizens segment saw a significant decline of -11.4% in organic growth, impacted by uncertainties related to electoral cycles [13] - The doctors and patients audience experienced organic growth of 5.3%, supported by innovations in healthcare [14] Strategic Developments - Ipsos is pursuing an acquisition strategy, including the finalization of the acquisition of The BVA Family, enhancing capabilities in various markets [33] - The company is also focusing on advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, particularly in synthetic data solutions [34] - A new strategic plan, Horizons 2030, is set to be presented during an Investor Day on November 19, 2025 [36]

Core Viewpoint - Bilendi reported a significant revenue increase of 42.2% for the first half of 2025, driven by the acquisition of Netquest and strong international sales growth [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for H1 2025 reached €43.5 million, up from €30.6 million in H1 2024, reflecting a growth of 42.2% [3][4]. - International revenue surged by 55.0% to €36.4 million, accounting for 84% of total sales, compared to 77% in H1 2024 [5]. - Revenue in France, which represents 16% of total sales, increased slightly by 0.2% to €7.1 million, with a rebound of 4% in Q2 2025 [6]. Strategic Developments - The acquisition of Netquest, finalized in February 2025, is a key milestone for Bilendi, enhancing its position as a global leader in the market research sector [4][12]. - Bilendi is expanding its proprietary panel coverage, aiming to launch 20 new panels and increase its network to 50 countries by the end of 2025 [8]. - The company introduced the Bilendi Platform, a self-service solution for market research, and enhanced the Bilendi Discuss platform with AI capabilities for automated analysis [9][10]. Company Milestones - 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Bilendi's listing on the Euronext Growth market, highlighting its transformation from an online loyalty program pioneer to a leader in technology and data solutions [11][12]. - Bilendi aims to achieve a revenue target of €100 million by 2026, with an EBITDA margin of 20% to 25% [13].

Group 1: Recent IPO Activity - Six companies, led by two mining firms, went public in the U.S. last week, including three blank check companies [1] - Aura Minerals plans to raise $210 million with a market cap of $2.1 billion, primarily generating revenue from gold and some copper [1] - Almonty Industries aims to raise $75 million with a market cap of approximately $1.5 billion, focusing on tungsten production for the defense industry [1] - Majestic Ideal Holdings, a Chinese supply chain management company, raised $15 million but saw a significant drop in share price, closing down 45% [1][2] Group 2: Upcoming IPO Filings - Three companies submitted initial filings last week, each planning to raise over $100 million: Bullish, Miami International, and Heartflow [2][3] - Avidbank, a California-based commercial bank, filed for a $70 million IPO [3] Group 3: Upcoming IPO Outlook - NIQ Global Intelligence plans to raise $1.1 billion with a market cap of $6.5 billion, serving as a leading provider of consumer intelligence [4][7] - Accelerant aims to raise $550 million with a market cap of $4.2 billion, operating a data-driven risk exchange for professional insurance [5][7] - McGraw Hill plans to raise $500 million with a market cap of $4 billion, focusing on educational publishing and digital learning solutions [5][7] - Carlsmed, a medical technology company, plans to raise $101 million with a market cap of $430 million, specializing in spine surgery solutions [6][7]

Core Insights - The article discusses how AI is transforming market research by shifting spending from traditional human-based methods to software-driven solutions, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing costs [2][12][24] - AI-driven companies are redefining market research, moving from static, lagging feedback to continuous, dynamic insights that can be integrated into workflows [5][21][25] Current State of Market Research - Traditional market research has relied heavily on manual processes, leading to inefficiencies and high costs, with annual spending reaching $140 billion [2][6] - The emergence of online survey tools in the early 2000s improved data collection but resulted in fragmented approaches lacking enterprise-level governance [6][8] - New UX research tools have allowed product teams to embed research into development processes, but these tools are often limited to small teams and lack cross-departmental collaboration [8][12] AI-Driven Innovations - AI has accelerated survey design and analysis, enabling real-time adjustments and insights that were previously unattainable [12][20] - Generative agents simulate human behavior, allowing for the creation of virtual societies that can provide insights without relying on human samples [13][17][20] - The integration of AI into market research tools allows for immediate, actionable insights, transforming the decision-making process [21][24] Future Trends - The article predicts a "cleansing moment" in market research, where outdated methods will be replaced by AI-driven tools that provide faster and more accurate insights [25] - Companies that adopt AI research tools early will gain competitive advantages through quicker insights and better decision-making capabilities [25] - The potential for AI-native companies to dominate the market lies in their ability to innovate and adapt quickly, contrasting with traditional firms that may struggle with legacy systems [24][25]

Core Points - Ipsos has appointed three new members to its Board of Directors: Armelle Carminati-Rabasse, Lionel Chaine, and Anne-Marie Couderc [2][4] - The Board now consists of 14 members, with an equal gender representation of 7 women and 7 men, and 67% of the directors are independent [3] - The appointments were confirmed during the Company's Annual General Meeting on May 21, 2025, and the Board met on June 20, 2025, to co-opt Anne-Marie Couderc [8] New Directors' Background - Armelle Carminati-Rabasse has a background in engineering and has held senior roles in international companies, focusing on business operations and human resources [9] - Lionel Chaine, the Chief Information Officer of Bpifrance, has extensive experience in digital strategy and IT management [9] - Anne-Marie Couderc is a lawyer and former Minister of Employment, with a history of leadership roles in major organizations, including Air France-KLM [9] Company Overview - Ipsos is a leading market research and opinion polling company, operating in 90 markets and employing nearly 20,000 people [6] - The company was founded in France in 1975 and has been listed on Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999 [8] - Ipsos aims to provide deep insights into various sectors through its diverse research methodologies [7]

Core Insights - Ipsos has successfully completed the acquisition of The BVA Family, enhancing its market research capabilities in France, the UK, and Italy [2][3] - The acquisition allows Ipsos to leverage BVA's expertise in customer experience monitoring, point-of-sale behavior analysis, and government research, expanding its service offerings [3][4] - The integration will result in Ipsos France operating under the name Ipsos Bva, while teams in Italy will be known as Ipsos Doxa, and BDRC in the UK will operate under the Ipsos brand [4] Company Overview - Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, with operations in 90 markets and nearly 20,000 employees [5] - The company offers 75 business solutions based on primary data from surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative techniques, providing insights into various sectors [6] - Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on Euronext Paris since 1999 and is part of the SBF 120 and Mid-60 indices [7]