The purchase price of AMT is composed of an initial consideration of €1.6m (£1.07m) payable in cash on completion and a deferred cash consideration payable over three years, up to a maximum of €3.2m, subject to performance criteria.
AMT has offices in Rome and Milan and an operation centre in Bari, southern Italy. It delivers quantitative and qualitative ad hoc research to clients, including brand and advertising research, product development, shopper research and pricing and promotion studies.
Aegis Group CEO Robert Lerwill said the acquisition was consistent with the company's investment strategy to develop a strong international network.
"The acquisition of AMT means that Synovate can now offer our clients a full service capability in the Italian market. It also greatly benefits AMT's clients as the agency's integration into the network will now allow it to provide services on an international basis."
Synovate's global CEO Adrian Chedore added: "AMT shares the same core values of excellent client service and innovative research solutions, so the fit between the two companies is extremely complementary".
AMT is headed by managing director Massimo de Benedittis who said clients would benefit greatly from the firm's integration into the Synovate, while would enjoy the opportunities that only a global company can offer.
Due to complete before the end of this month, the acquisition is one of a number of market research firms Aegis has bought this year, including French market researcher ARTeam, Sydney-based Aztec Information Systems and Belgian agency Columbus Quanti.
For the year ended December 31 2004, AMT had revenues of approximately €4.5m.
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