Public Sector Specialist Kable Bought by Progressive

UK public sector intelligence specialist Kable, which provides research, forecasts and analysis of the ICT market, has been acquired by business information firm Progressive Digital Media Group (PDMG). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

PDMG was formed in June 2009 through the reverse acquisition of online marketing services group TMN Plc. The firm announced a £20m share placement in April, and is using the proceeds to finance acquisitions in the business information market.

London-based Kable's services will be added to PDMG's Business Information unit, comprising research agencies ICD and the iD Factor, and soft drink and alcohol consultancy Canadean.

Kable - which is led by MD Stephen Roberts (pictured) - provides public sector suppliers with market intelligence information drawn from multiple sources. Its market research division is staffed by consultants who gather, validate, and analyse government data from thousands of public sector sources, while also offering clients a range of customised primary research, and qual and quant intelligence services.

The company's subscription service is a market intelligence resource for major IT and services suppliers to UK government, and is said to be widely used in Whitehall. PDMG says the acquisition is part of its own strategy to grow its exposure to subscription-based content revenue streams.

Web sites: www.progressivedigitalmedia.com and www.kable.co.uk .