The Financial Times announces the acquisition of GIS Planning, a San Francisco-based internet technology company providing organisations with data and intelligence on foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic development in North America.
The acquisition of GIS Planning strengthens the FT Group’s portfolio of specialist products and services. GIS Planning’s ZoomProspector Enterprise and ZoomProspector.com join a stable of successful FDI subscription services which includes fDi Magazine, fDi Markets and fDi Benchmark.
FT CEO John Ridding said: “GIS Planning is a strong addition to the FT Group, with valuable specialist information, cutting-edge technological capabilities, a loyal client base and substantial growth potential. At a time when companies and investors are re-assessing optimal locations for business, GIS Planning brings significant expertise and opportunity. The FT’s international network and the global power of its brand will provide a healthy foundation for GIS Planning’s expansion.”
Anatalio Ubalde, Co-Founder, GIS Planning, added: “Combining the data, software, and services of the Financial Times and GIS Planning creates a powerful economic development service focused on business growth and job creation. This partnership immediately offers a competitive advantage to US and Canadian economic development organisations, and has great potential to expand globally.”
GIS Planning’s clients include economic development organisations in the USA and Canada committed to attracting and growing business investment into their regions. Its flagship product ZoomProspector provides quantitative analysis that helps companies identify the optimal location to start up, expand or relocate based on real estate, demographics, industry information, and geographic advantages.
Its software engine currently serves more than 17,000 cities, including the majority of the 100 largest cities in the United States. The company has more active clients than any other economic development-focused company in the US and Canada. Five years in a row, GIS Planning has made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the United States.
The FT’s FDI business revenues have more than trebled since the fDi Markets and Benchmark databases were acquired by the FT Group in 2008. It is the largest FDI centre of excellence globally, offering businesses unrivalled information about the industry, guidance on their marketing campaigns, and opportunities to find and meet suitable investors.
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For more information please contact:
Financial Times: Kristina Eriksson
kristina.eriksson@ft.com
+44 (0) 20 7873 4961
GIS Planning: Anatalio Ubalde
ubalde@gisplanning.com
+1 (415) 294-4771
About the Financial Times Group
The Financial Times Group is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of business information, news and services for the global business community. The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. In 2016 the FT passed a significant milestone in its digital transformation as digital revenues overtook print revenues for the first time. The FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 840,000 and makes 60% of revenues from its journalism.
About GIS Planning
GIS Planning is the world leader in online economic development solutions. Over 17,000 U.S. cities in 43 states are served by GIS Planning’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Software, which provides real estate, demographic, and industry data to help businesses and site selection professionals select optimal geographic locations through powerful online mapping analysis. GIS Planning’s software as a service helps local communities grow their economies through business investment.