Linkfluence, one of the leading social media intelligence firms in Europe, is hoping to accelerate its international expansion with the acquisition of ActSocial, a Chinese company that offers similar insights into the Asian market.

With the estimated number of active social networking users in China currently at 650m, more than 10 times the population of the UK, being able to leverage the data produced by these consumers is increasingly important.

WeChat, Chinas most popular messaging app, boasts 600m active users and also serves as an mCommerce platform and marketing ecosystem. Brands in the Chinese market need to monitor social media conversations if they hope to access useful insights.

By acquiring ActSocial, Linkfluence aims to combine its strengths and establish a dedicated team of data scientists based in Shanghai who will harvest social media data in China and across Asia.

“ActSocial and Linkfluence share similar cultures,” said Marc Rivoira, CEO of ActSocial. “Both companies mix ground-breaking technology with human expertise to generate a strong competitive advantage for clients.”

“We are very please to welcome the ActSocial teams within Linkfluence,” said Hervé Simonin, CEO of Linkfluence. “ActSocial is a well-established business in China, helping major international brands to make the most of the Asian social web. This strategic acquisition supports our clients on a global scale.”