 | ||
Progressive Digital Media (PDM, LSE: PRO), previously TMN Group and themutual.net, and now called GlobalData Plc, is a digital media company that was established in 1999 and has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2000. Its corporate headquarters are based in London and it also has offices across the UK, US, Argentina, South Korea, Mexico, China, Japan, India and Australia. The group is chaired by Mike Danson, who was also one of the founders of Datamonitor.
Contents
Progressive media acquired current analysis Inc in 2014.
Background
PDM was founded in 2007 as a holding company for a set of media assets purchased from Wilmington PLC (LSE: WIL); it expanded further by a series of acquisitions, purchasing Business Review from Datamonitor PLC in July 2008, followed in November 2008 by acquiring the entire share capital of SPG Media Group PLC (LSE: SPM).
In 2009, PDM gained a listing on AIM via a reverse takeover of TMN.
History
themutual.net started as an internet service provider who rewarded customers who used their dial-up 0845 number service to access the internet with shares in the company. As most UK internet provider moved towards a monthly paid-for access via free 0800 numbers, companies based on this business model suffered. themutual.net changed its focus to become a members-owned consumer club, business and reward website. The company offered consumers rewards for shopping, by handing back commission earned as free shares. Members received 1,000 free shares on joining, and more when they purchased through online partners, including Tesco and Dixons. Information collected from members formed the basis of a database for the direct email marketing company.
themutual.net was originally listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) in 2000 before later being re-listed as TMN Group plc.
In 2009, TMN was acquired via a reverse takeover by Progressive Digital Media Ltd, and changed its name to Progressive Digital Media Group Ltd.
In January 2016 PDM bought the GlobalData Holding Ltd business and changed its own name to GlobalData PLC.
LSE page on Global Data PLC (DATA) shares