synopsis: Kantar Media, the media research and insights division of Kantar, has expanded its social media offer in China with the acquisition of CIC, a leader in the Chinese Social media listening and analysis industry. CIC coined the now standard Chinese industry term Internet Word of Mouth (IWOM) and pioneered the concept of social business in China.

synopsis: New York City-based boutique, tech-creative firm Circ.us has been acquired by Los Angeles-based, Something Massive. Circ.us has done work for numerous brands, building everything from augmented reality initiatives and mobile applications to social gaming platforms and sock puppet campaigns.

synopsis: Redi-Data, a provider of healthcare professional, consumer and business data and email lists, announced the acquisition of KM Lists, a full-service list provider. Its products and industry experience across all data verticals will augment Redi-Data's already robust offerings, furthering the company's position as an industry leader.

synopsis: UTV Media plc, a media company that provides television, radio, and other media services in the United States and Ireland, has bought Simply Zesty, the market leading social media agency in the Republic of Ireland.

synopsis: Matsumoto & Clapperton Advertising has acquired the social- and digital media marketing company AIDIA Studio to strengthen the agency's resources in digital technology.

synopsis: The Karcher Group (TKG), a Web marketing, Web development and data services agency based in North Canton, Ohio, has announced the acquisition of Social Business Strategies, a Social Media strategy and consulting firm located in Columbus, Ohio.

synopsis: Wolfe, LLC has acquired Echelon Media, LLC, a social rewards platform and recognized leader in social media customer engagement strategies. Together, the companies will provide a turnkey social media solution to companies that are seeking to increase user interactions over social networking sites.

synopsis: dunnhumby Ltd., a global leader in building brand value for consumer goods and retail companies, has reached an agreement to acquire social marketing company BzzAgent, Inc. BzzAgent creates measurable business results for marketers through an influential advocate network, a powerful engagement platform, and a proven analytics approach.

synopsis: Lonelybrand, the digital marketing and communications consultancy for midsized and large companies, announced it has acquired ChirpUp. ChirpUp addresses the digital marketing needs of midsized and large businesses.

synopsis: Adknowledge, the leading long tail marketplace, announced it has completed its acquisition of AdParlor, a leading Facebook Ads management platform. AdParlor manages over one billion impressions per day on Facebook and effectively manages Facebook advertising on a large scale for hundreds of clients.

synopsis: BLITZ, a leading integrated agency, has acquired renowned social media group bigMETHOD. bigMETHOD uses social media to connect clients to their target audiences by marrying research and analytics with deep industry experience to create effective communication programs.

synopsis: Rapid Fire Marketing has completed the acquisition of InBoundMarketingPR, an Internet and social media marketing firm. InBoundMarketingPR specializes in Internet marketing, Social Media Marketing, Media and other forms of assistance for both private and public companies.

synopsis: Publicis Groupe has acquired an equity stake in Big Fuel Communications. Big Fuel is one of the only pure-play social media agencies in the industry, providing clients with social media services including strategic, creative, distribution, management and analytics. Big Fuel will operate through Digitas part of the VivaKi organization.

synopsis: Rauxa, a full-service direct marketing agency, announced it has acquired ThoughtMatrix, a San Francisco-based digital design and development firm. The deal will expand Rauxa's portfolio of digital and integrated services, adding expertise in leading-edge technology, creative talent and social influence marketing leadership.

synopsis: WPP announces that its wholly-owned full-service digital marketing agency, VML Inc., has acquired a majority stake in Qais Consulting (“Qais"), a leading digital marketing agency in Singapore. Qais will join its business operations with VML, one of the world’s leading digital marketing agencies, and rebrand as VML Qais.

synopsis: Publicis Groupe announced the acquisition of Mediagong, a leading independent French digital agency. Founded in 2002, Mediagong employs some 50 communications professionals on the conception and development of innovative digital tools and interactive campaigns.

synopsis: Publicis Groupe announced that it has acquired 100% of Gomye, a full service digital agency providing integrated and interactive marketing services, with offices in Beijing as well as Chengdu and Chongqing. Gomye will be rebranded to become Publicis Modem Beijing (the digital arm of Publicis Worldwide in Beijing) and Publicis Modem Chengdu.

synopsis: Webxu, Inc., a media company that owns and operates consumer branded web properties, announced the acquisition of Lot6 Media, Inc., an online marketing company that provides a variety of Customer Acquisition based solutions for online businesses, agencies and marketers through its wholly owned business Lot6 Media, LLC.

synopsis: Union Square Media (USM), a leading digital advertising agency, made a move to secure its leadership position in the online advertising niche it pioneered. USM, which specializes in the development and operation of customer acquisition technologies and solutions, is growing their team of industry veterans by merging with The Keller Network.

synopsis: Publicis Groupe announced that it has acquired 100% of Wangfan, an innovative digital agency based in Shanghai that focuses on piloting interactive campaigns, web branding, and the conception and design of websites. Wangfan will be rebranded to become part of Publicis Modem Shanghai, the digital arm of Publicis Shanghai.

synopsis: Kantar Media, the media research and insights division of Kantar, has expanded its social media offer in China with the acquisition of CIC, a leader in the Chinese Social media listening and analysis industry. CIC coined the now standard Chinese industry term Internet Word of Mouth (IWOM) and pioneered the concept of social business in China.

synopsis: Kantar Media, the media research and insights division of Kantar, has expanded its social media offer in China with the acquisition of CIC, a leader in the Chinese Social media listening and analysis industry. CIC coined the now standard Chinese industry term Internet Word of Mouth (IWOM) and pioneered the concept of social business in China.

synopsis: infoUSA the leading provider of proprietary business and consumer databases and sales leads announced the successful conclusion of its cash tender offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock and Series A preferred stock of Guideline, Inc., a New York corporation.

synopsis: Eli Research, LLC, has acquired the assets of industry research and technical market analysis firm Business Communications Company, Inc., announced Eli Research Chairman and CEO Greg Lindberg.

synopsis: FIND/SVP, Inc., a leading provider of business advisory, research and consulting services, announced today the closing of two previously announced acquisitions. Atlantic Research & Consulting, Inc., a rapidly growing quantitative and qualitative custom market research firm, and Signia Partners, Inc.

synopsis: FIND/SVP, Inc., a leading provider of business advisory, research and consulting services, announced today the closing of two previously announced acquisitions. Atlantic Research & Consulting, Inc. and Signia Partners, Inc., a leading provider of in-depth business research and fact-based decision support.

synopsis: WPP-owned Kantar is buying a majority stake in Oasis Insights, a full service market research consultancy based in Karachi, Pakistan. Oasis Insights specialises in brand tracking, consumer and segmentation studies, along with NPD, media and ad research across a wide range of industries.

synopsis: Ipsos has extended its presence in South East Asia with the acquisition of analysis specialist Consumer Behavior & Insight (CBI) in Vietnam. Founded in 1998, CBI offers a full range of qualitative and quantitative services from operations in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, where it employs around 70 full-time staff.

synopsis: MarketShare, the marketing analytics industry leader, has agreed to acquire MarketingNPV, one of the best-known providers of innovative measurement solutions and tools. The combined entity will offer an unprecedented end-to-end solution to marketers in all industries.

synopsis: WNS (Holdings) Limited, a leading provider of offshore business process outsourcing services, announced that it closed its acquisition of Marketics Technologies (India) Private Limited, a privately-owned leader in offshore analytics services on May 9, 2007.

synopsis: The GfK Group acquired 100% ownership of US company Interscope, LLC. Interscope is a leading marketing consulting organization that focuses on helping companies build their brands at retail. The acquisition contributes to the growth of GfK Custom Research North America. Interscope will remain in their Westport, CT location.

synopsis: Harrison Group LLC, a leading marketing and strategic research consulting firm headquartered in Waterbury, CT, announced that it has agreed to be acquired by YouGov plc, a global market leader in survey and market research, political polling, panel management, research operations and business consulting.

synopsis: Yankelovich Holdings, Inc. has signed a definitive merger agreement with WPP to merge with Henley Centre HeadlightVision, WPP's consumer trends and futures research and consultancy business and a unit of Kantar, WPP’s information, insight and consultancy division. The merger will become effective upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

synopsis: IXI Corp. has acquired Cohorts, bringing together two of the leading customer-segmentation service providers.

synopsis: Kenexa, a leading provider of talent acquisition and retention solutions, has acquired Minneapolis-based Gantz Wiley Research. Founded in 1986, Gantz Wiley Research has been a pioneer in the survey research industry and was the first to publish work on how employee and customer opinions are linked to business metrics.

synopsis: Barbara L. Allan, founder and CEO of SRA Research, Inc., today announced that the company has acquired On The Mark Research, which is based in Stuart, FL. Mark Sandler, President of On The Mark, has been named Vice President of Client Services for the combined company.

synopsis: Allen DeCotiis, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Marketing International announced today the acquisition of Cultural Access Group, a preeminent market research firm possessing unmatched ethnic and cultural expertise about the new mainstream markets and the new American consumer.

synopsis: Bacon's Information, Inc., a provider of media research, distribution, monitoring and evaluation services for public relations, marketing and corporate communications professionals, today announced the acquisition of Multivision, Inc., a broadcast monitoring and media management company headquartered in Oakland, California.

synopsis: LMC Automotive announced that it has acquired the automotive forecasting division from long-time alliance partner J.D. Power and Associates, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies. LMC and J.D. Power began working together in the area of automotive forecasting and market intelligence in the mid-1990s.

synopsis: Infogroup, the leading provider of targeted high-value sales and marketing data, market intelligence and innovative digital engagement solutions, announced that it has sold its global market research firm, ORC International, to Lake Capital Management, a Chicago-based private equity firm.

synopsis: Ebiquity plc is pleased to announce the acquisition of Echo Research. Echo is being acquired for initial consideration of £3.5 million with a maximum aggregate consideration of up to £10.0 million. Echo Research provides independent reputation analysis through media content and stakeholder studies.

synopsis: Mindset Media, LLC, the ad technology and market research company that set the standard in psychographic targeting and insight, has announced the sale of materially all of its assets to a wholly owned subsidiary of Meebo, Inc.