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Transactions

October 2005
Austin, Texas
has been acquired by
Port Washington, New York


Background

Ross Young founded DisplaySearch after writing a book on US – Japan high-tech competition entitled: Silicon Sumo. A well-respected expert and consultant, Ross soon after invited his father, Barry, to join him to help manage the business. Within a few years Display had become the leading provider of quantitative and qualitative market research and analysis for a rapidly growing niche within the high technology electronics industry – firms that produce market or sell products that are used to produce – or that contain - flat-panel display devices - notebook PCs, handheld games, PDAs, mobile phones, medical devices, and more. Together, they built a rapidly growing company with offices in Austin Texas (Headquarters); Chicago; Houston; Richmond; and Tempe Arizona, as well as an international presence operating from offices in Tokyo Japan; Seoul Korea; and Taipei Taiwan. The Company was growing fast, and was highly profitable. Management had big dreams for expansion. At the same time, they faced a requirement to spend increasing amounts of time on administrative duties, a need to add infrastructure, and growing competition. Ross and Barry concluded that they should see if there were a suitable strategic partner that could help them take the company to the next level. They engaged M&A to provide strategic and financial advice.



Overview

On October 3, 2005, DisplaySearch, Inc. was acquired by NPD Group, a leader in the market research, analytics and information industry. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The NPD Group, founded in 1967, is headquartered in Port Washington, New York. The Company also has offices in Paris, France; Tokyo, Japan; Nuremberg, Germany; Mexico City, Mexico; Toronto, Canada; Madrid, Spain; and Milan, Italy.

The acquisition by NPD provided the DisplaySearch team with broadened opportunities to grow their business, while, at the same time, providing significant liquidity to the founders. The transaction also expanded NPD’s coverage of high-tech markets, and enhancing their analytical capabilities. The DisplaySearch Team continues to operate its business within NPD.

M&A Role

M&A was the exclusive strategic and financial advisor to DisplaySearch.

Press

The NPD Group Acquires DisplaySearch

October 03, 2005

The NPD Group Acquires DisplaySearch

PORT WASHINGTON, NY, October 3, 2005 – The NPD Group, a global provider of consumer and retail information and insights, announced it has acquired DisplaySearch, the premier provider of market research, analysis and conferences for the flat panel display industry. The acquisition will allow both NPD and DisplaySearch to leverage each other’s core strengths, providing clients with the first and only total market view for the rapidly growing $70 billion flat panel display industry.

The flat panel display industry will have access to an unprecedented level of information and insights as the acquisition brings NPD deep vertical expertise in the flat panel display market segment, enhancing its broad POS and consumer tracking coverage. NPD information used in conjunction with DisplaySearch delivery and supply chain information will give clients end-to-end coverage of the flat panel display market.

“The addition of DisplaySearch to the NPD family is an important step forward in our strategy to grow and evolve our business,” said Leon Shapiro, Group President for NPD. “We’re not only adding depth in a core vertical, but we are also expanding into new markets and strengthening our analytics.”

“Adding NPD’s data and expertise on display-based products to our supply chain coverage of the display industry will provide our customers with maximum visibility on all layers of the supply chain, resulting in even more accurate reporting and forecasts. In addition, the tools NPD has developed will enhance our customer experience. This should be a real benefit for DisplaySearch customers as they look for help in navigating the rapidly changing and growing display industry.”

DisplaySearch conferences will offer NPD a new platform for sharing information and insights with the industry. The acquisition also boosts both companies’ analytical resources by linking their established and growing rosters of industry analysts.

DisplaySearch will continue to operate independently as an NPD Group company.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
Since 1967 The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today more than 1,400 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to help them better understand their customers, product categories, distribution channels and competition in order to help guide their business. Information from The NPD Group is available for the following major vertical sectors: apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, consumer electronics, food and beverage, foodservice, footwear, home improvement, housewares, imaging, information technology, music, software, travel, toys, video games, and wireless. For more information visit www.npd.com

About DisplaySearch
DisplaySearch is a leading provider of research and analysis for the display industry. The company has a core team of 31 employees located in North America and Asia who produce a valued suite of market forecasts, technology assessments, surveys, studies and analyses, and they organize influential industry events worldwide. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, DisplaySearch has regional operations in Chicago, Hong Kong, Houston, Kyoto, San Diego, San Jose, Seoul, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo, and the company is on the web at www.displaysearch.com

About Marlin & Associates
Marlin & Associates New York LLC ("M&A") initiated this transaction and acted as exclusive strategic and financial advisor to DisplaySearch. M&A provides strategic and transaction-related advisory services to middle market firms in the media, technology, information and business services sectors. The firm is based in New York City and Washington DC. For more information, visit M&A on the web at www.marlinandassociates.com.

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