United Business Media, the company which owns CMP Asia, the newly renamed company which presents APLF and other fairs, has acquired Roper Starch Worldwide, a leading US consumer market research and trends consultancy for $88 million.

If approved by regulatory authorities, it will be merged with NOP World’s Audits & Surveys Worldwide, another UBM subsidiary. One of the sectors both organisations track is the automotive business, consumer attitudes towards cars and pre-purchase automotive research.