Mercer has signed an agreement to acquire ORC Worldwide, creating an ‘unparalleled’ provider of global human resource intelligence.

The transaction strengthens related consulting, conference and educations services, and ORC’s international positioning complements Mercer’s global network and capabilities.

Both firms have significant global presence, and the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010.

M. Michele Burns, chairman and chief executive officer 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 United States, 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.”

Robert J. Freedman, president and chief executive office of ORC, added: “The combined organization that will result from our global integration gives our clients access to an unrivalled set of products and services. In the expatriate space, ORC and Mercer together will become the undisputed leader in terms of client and geographic coverage. No other full service HR firm is able to match our combined breadth of service and data products. Talent management – especially in the global sense – is a clear focus today for multinationals. Understanding and being able to efficiently use expatriate data and program policy is critical for leading global organizations, from for-profits to INGOs. Our combined services will help our clients achieve their desired business objectives.”

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