NewsDirect Joins Forces with DeHavilland for Enhanced Political Insight
Deal News | Apr 29, 2025 | Bowmark Capital
DeHavilland, backed by private equity firm Bowmark Capital, has acquired NewsDirect, a policy coverage provider focused on Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The acquisition aims to integrate NewsDirect's specialized regional expertise with DeHavilland's broader UK and EU-wide monitoring services, thereby enhancing the political intelligence offered to clients. This move comes ahead of the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections and will strengthen DeHavilland's position as a leading provider of political insights in the UK. Both Andrew Himsley, CEO of DeHavilland, and Kirsty Peebles, Founder of NewsDirect, have expressed optimism about the opportunities this acquisition presents for enhanced service offerings and future growth in political monitoring.
Sectors
- Political Intelligence
- Media and Information Services
Geography
- United Kingdom – The acquisition involves companies primarily operating across the UK, including specialized services in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- European Union – DeHavilland offers broader monitoring services that include EU-wide political insights, making this geography relevant.
Industry
- Political Intelligence – The acquisition focuses on enhancing political monitoring and intelligence services, relevant to policy coverage and political analysis.
- Media and Information Services – Both companies provide specialized information services related to political coverage and insights, making this classification relevant.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeHavilland | Bidding Company | Company | A provider of political intelligence and monitoring services, backed by Bowmark Capital. |
| NewsDirect | Target Company | Company | A provider of policy coverage in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, known for its regional expertise. |
| Bowmark Capital | Private Equity Backer | Company | The private equity firm backing DeHavilland in its acquisition of NewsDirect. |
| Andrew Himsley | CEO of DeHavilland | Person | Chief Executive Officer of DeHavilland, involved in the acquisition strategy. |
| Kirsty Peebles | Founder and Managing Director of NewsDirect | Person | Founder of NewsDirect, now part of DeHavilland post-acquisition. |