Mercer hopes ORC’s market position and reputation in the US, particularly in the area of international assignment expertise, will compliment its worldwide research capabilities and global network of offices.
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010. Terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed.
M. Michele Burns, chairman and CEO of Mercer, said: "Clearly, this combination will further enhance Mercer’s market position as the provider of choice for solutions around global workforce management.
"ORC’s solid US reputation and capabilities complement those of Mercer, and together we have strong positions in the US, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The joint venture in Japan, YORC, adds further strength to our business in this market. This transaction demonstrates Mercer’s commitment to invest in businesses that provide long-term strategic growth and to enhance high-quality services that benefit clients."
While Mercer’s information business, in combination with ORC, will be well-positioned for future growth, providing top-tier service to existing clients remains first and foremost the objective of the merged business.
As a combined organisation specialising in human resource information and related consulting, Mercer and ORC will serve more than half of the companies in the S&P 500, the FTSE 100 and the FT Global 500, and more than one-third of the DJ Global 1800 as well as many mid-size firms, non-governmental organisations and non-profit institutions.
