Columbia, Md. — Arbitron, the Columbia-based media and marketing research firm best known for its radio ratings, said it will pay as much as $23.7 million to acquire Zokem, a Finland-based mobile audience measurement and analytics firm.
Under the deal, Arbitron paid $11.7 million in cash at closing, and will pay up to $12 million more through 2014, based on the company’s future performance.
Arbitron CEO William Kerr said the acquisition “enhances the mobile audience measurement capabilities we gained through our previous purchase of the IMMI technology assets and through the continuing development of our Portable People Meter technology.”
Zokem‘s technology is designed to help clients track and interpret consumer use of mobile devices and media. The technology also provides information on network performance and the effectiveness of mobile ad campaigns.
Zokem will operate as Arbitron Mobile, and will be led by Hannu Verkasalo, its founder and CEO.
This article was also published in Potomac Tech Wire.
