News Corp. Acquires Handpicked Companies Limited

News Corp NWS NWSA announced today the acquisition of a luxury shopping website in the United Kingdom that two of its leading publications will help to promote in a new digital venture. News UK, a News Corp subsidiary, has acquired Handpicked Companies Limited, owner of The Handpicked Collection - a flourishing online retailer with a carefully selected range of expertly sourced products. The Handpicked Collection (www.handpickedcollection.com) was named "Retailer of the Year" in the "Gifts" category by the Online Retailer Awards in 2013. The Handpicked Collection, which launched in 2007, will continue to target its existing consumer markets but the acquisition means that its offers will reach an even wider audience with promotion through News UK publications The Times and The Sunday Times. Research shows that 2.7 million of the titles' readers bought online in the past six months and over a fifth of readers of The Times/The Sunday Times make non-grocery purchases online at least once a week.