Kagiso Media and Mint Management Technologies extend reach into data insights market with Knowledge Factory deal
In a move to extend their reach into marketing and property data insights Kagiso Media and Mint Management Technologies acquired Knowledge Factory, a property and marketing insights company, from Primedia for an undisclosed amount.
Kagiso Media which bought a 65% share said that Knowledge Factory, South African Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG) and PropertyDotGo brands will be maintained and housed under a new company called Kagiso EProps. The remaining 35% of the shares will be owned by Mint.
Knowledge Factory provides detailed intelligence about the South African population, markets and property to its clients, who use the information to make business decisions. The SAPTG and PropertyDotGo brands provide intelligence to realtors and financial services institutions respectively.
“Kagiso Media is eager to extend its reach into new markets that complement our existing media and advertising businesses. Knowledge Factory is a healthy and fast-growing business operating in an expanding market,” says Mervyn van Zyl, Kagiso Media’s Financial Director, about the transaction which brings together three leading organisations in their respective fields. “In addition to providing us with new avenues for expansion, we will also be able to leverage Knowledge Factory’s solutions and experience in our media planning and advertising businesses,” said van Zyl.
David Woolnough, C.E.O. of Mint Management Technologies, is confident that the company now has the capability to take the solution services offering to the next level says, “we are excited about our enhanced and comprehensive solution offering that brings together Mint’s strategic management, information access and integration skills with Kagiso Media’s advertising products, combined with the world-class data provision and analysis solutions provided by Knowledge Factory.” He will lead Kagiso EProps and retains his current position at Mint.
“Knowledge Factory has been seeking new shareholders to help it accelerate its strategy following several years of robust growth,” says Geraldine Mitchley, CEO of Knowledge Factory, “in particular, we wanted a strong technology partner that could help implement advanced web and mobile technologies as well as provide new value-added services to our clients. We have achieved all our goals through the transaction with Kagiso Media and Mint Management Technologies.”
Kagiso EProps will move into the Mint offices in early 2011. “Our customers can look forward to this partnership producing a range of new solutions that will help them achieve even more with the information that we provide.” The new ownership structure will not cause disruption to ”our operations as we transition,” Mitchley concludes.