A London-based data analytics firm owned by billionaire media mogul Mike Danson is currently engaged in discussions regarding a potential acquisition with two private equity firms. The company, GlobalData, is predominantly owned by Danson, who also manages the New Statesman and the Wigan Warriors rugby team.

GlobalData has confirmed it received an initial offer from KKR and Intermediate Capital Group (ICG), both of which are notable private equity investment firms.

The proposed deal may involve a cash purchase or an alternative for shareholders to opt for unlisted equity.

The company stated, “There can be no certainty that any formal offer for GlobalData will be made by either ICG or KKR, nor regarding the potential terms of any offer.”

Both KKR and ICG have chosen not to comment further on the transaction.

While the specific offer price remains undisclosed, shares rose by 42.5 pence, equating to a 31.5% increase, closing at 177.5 pence, which estimates GlobalData’s valuation at £1.4 billion. This development was initially reported by Bloomberg.

Founded in 2016 through the merger of various data and analytics providers, GlobalData serves industries from pharmaceuticals to food production, operating on a subscription basis.

Any acquisition of GlobalData would require approval from Danson, who holds a 59% ownership stake in the company. The firm has expressed intentions to transition from the junior Aim market to the main market, aiming for inclusion in the FTSE 250.

In the previous year, GlobalData reported revenues of £286 million and a pre-tax profit of £54.9 million, reflecting growth from £273 million and £41.5 million in 2023.

Danson, who also owns Progressive Media International and Press Gazette, made headlines in the past after selling Datamonitor, a market research firm listed in 2000, to Informa for over £500 million in 2007, only to reacquire it for £25 million in 2015.

Also known for purchasing the Wigan Warriors rugby league team last year, Danson holds ownership of Wigan Athletic, a football team in EFL League One.

This interest in GlobalData marks the latest initiative by KKR, an American private equity firm, to acquire UK-listed companies amid a trend of foreign investors seeking undervalued UK assets. Earlier this month, KKR successfully executed a joint acquisition of Assura, a landlord for GP surgeries, valued at £1.6 billion.

The private equity firm faced criticism last year from Columbia Threadneedle for its aggressive strategies in the London market, especially following its £316 million acquisition of IQGeo, a firm providing software for utility companies utilizing satellite imagery for network tracking.

Last month, KKR was also identified as the preferred bidder for Thames Water, a heavily indebted water utility, after proposing to take over its shares in exchange for an initial £4 billion cash investment.