The Belgian owner of Independent News and Media (INM) has bought a stake in a US-based consultancy firm.

Mediahuis and Mather Economics have entered into a strategic partnership.

Mediahuis says it has acquired a 35% stake in the agency.

In a statement, the firm says the investment will facilitate "an acceleration of Mather's ambitious international growth plans."

While it says there will also be a further expansion of the Mediahuis portfolio within the media, technology and services market.

Mather Economics uses predictive analytics techniques and operational testing.

In addition to industries such as e-commerce, sports, lotteries, digital services and telecom, it has developed expertise within the publishing industry, helping publishers to build and maintain more profitable long-term relationships with their print and digital subscribers.

It has developed a digital data-capture platform and intelligence layer, Listener, to support analytics of online audiences and implement targeted customer acquisition.

Its client base includes organisations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Singapore, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Paul Verwilt, COO of the Mediahuis Group, says: "Building valuable long-term relationships with readers is crucial for the publishing industry, which is characterised by an ever-decreasing fall in single copy sales.

"Nowadays, subscription models form a cornerstone for most publishers’ business models.

"As we see the readiness to pay for digital journalism growing, an optimal management of the customer journey and pricing strategy have become key.

"Mather’s experience in the area of subscription flows, subscriber yield management, pricing strategy optimisation, customer loyalty and retention is of great added-value, not only for Mediahuis, but also for other publishers worldwide."

In addition to growth within the publishing industry, Mediahuis says it will support Mather’s entry into new industries where subscription models are gradually gaining access.

European households spend around 5% of their total budget on subscription models such as telecom, music, television and food.

Matt Lindsay, president of Mather Economics, adds: "Mather has experienced significant growth in Europe in recent years.

"A strategic partnership with Mediahuis will enable us to improve our service to European clients in the publishing industry, and in other verticals who are growing their subscription revenue models.

"Mediahuis also provides Mather with access to experienced media technologists and developers, who will add capabilities and operational scale to our growing Listener toolset."

Mediahuis bought INM for €145.6m back in April of this year.

The company publishes titles such as the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and a host of regional titles.