Octant Interactive acquires Esha News Monitoring

Interactive technology services provider Octant Interactive Technologies Ltd has acquired Mumbai-based broadcast monitoring and analysis leader Esha News Monitoring. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Primarily engaged in the development of software, Octant Interactive has recently diversified into interactive technology with the development of intellectual property rights and emergency health care services.

Esha is a leader in providing broadcast monitoring and analysis to corporate houses, governments, NGOs and researchers. Popularly known as ENM Broadcast Monitoring & Analysis, Esha currently provides the best media monitoring services in India with over 150 employees monitoring over 130 channels round the clock and providing a host of specialised services to meet the need of its target customer base.

For Octant, the acquisition of Esha is a strategic fit with the existing business model and going forward the company will form three strategic business units. Octntr has expanded its presence in interactive technologies by developing the required IPRs in terms of GPRS enabled tracking systems for emergency medical health care, with a back end BPO to attend the calls.

R S Iyer of Esha News will take over as director and CEO, and will be steering the overall operations along with other board members.

''The acquisition represents a significant step for Octant in our strategy to accelerate growth in our interactive technologies business," said L V Ramnarayan, director, Octant Interactive Technologies, said. "We are convinced of the compelling strategic rationale of this partnership and the terms deliver substantial value to shareholders. The established contacts of ENM with the government, corporate houses and decision makers will us help in leveraging our business of emergency medical health care''

According to Iyer, director, Esha News Monitoring, ''We are at the centre of this interactive technology business, and together we will build on our combined heritage to redefine the ways of monitoring and analysis. By joining hands with Octant, we will be able to bring sound context and valuable information to a number of our customers. We will be able to significantly increase the depth and breadth of our coverage in the vastly underserved market. We also look forward to maintaining and enhancing the services and support provided to Octant's existing and future customers.'' M/s.Firstcall India Equity Advisors Pvt.Ltd, Mumbai, is the advisors for the transaction.