News Group acquisitions top $1 million

The Dubai-based News Group International (NGI) has spent more than $1 million acquiring two international media-analysis firms.

NGI, which itself specialises in monitoring news and social media, said it has acquired the London-headquartered Report International and the US-based KDPaine & Partners.

Mazen Nahawi, the president of NGI, told The National that each investment was valued at more than $500,000, and would receive additional funds in the future.

“Each deal in the acquisition is worth between $500,000 and $1 million and will receive additional funds for investment and growth,” said Mr Nahawi.

Report International and KDPaine “provide customers with insight based on traditional and social media content analysis, as well as surveys and field research,” Mr Nahawi said.

Both firms will become part of NGI’s measurement company Salience Insight, but continue to operate under their own existing brand names, the Dubai firm said.

Mr Nahawi said NGI plans to make use of the two companies’ resources in the Middle East region.

“We plan on extending the talent, technology and reach of these companies to our region where I believe they will help dramatically raise the level of measurement services in the markets where we operate,” he said.

Mr Nahawi said that NGI was “continuing to evaluate” other potential acquisition targets.