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Transactions

March 2012
Wellingborough, United Kingdom
has been acquired by
Englewood, Colorado


Background

IMS Research (the “Company”) provides premium market research, in-depth market insight and consulting to the global electronics industry.  IMS Research’s products and services include syndicated market studies, custom research, consultancy services and events that deliver comprehensive, value-added data and in-depth actionable market intelligence to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component manufacturers and electronic systems suppliers across the technology spectrum.  The Company serves diverse industries, from semiconductors and wireless to industrial systems and alternative energy, helping clients in more than 50 countries better understand markets and shape strategies.  Founded in 1989, IMS Research is headquartered in Wellingborough, UK, and has additional offices in the US, China, Japan, Taiwan South Korea with roughly 140 employees. 

As the Company continued to grow, Management realized it needed to consider its strategic alternatives to either find the right strategic partner or financial sponsor to accelerate expansion and capture the market opportunity at hand.  To this end, IMS Research retained Marlin & Associates (“M&A”) for guidance as they considered a variety of strategic options including a sale to a larger organization.



Overview

M&A organized a dedicated team of seasoned bankers to work closely with Management to develop materials that seamlessly communicated IMS Research’s long history, growth potential, strategy, execution plan and detailed financial projections to potentially interested parties.  M&A leveraged its deep domain expertise and significant knowledge of the global investor universe in the sector.  Before a broader process could commence, the Company was approached by representatives from IHS, a publicly traded company based in Englewood, CO.  IHS (NYSE:IHS) is a leading source of information, insight and analytics in areas such as defense, energy, shipping and health.  Management recognized the potential for significant synergies with what they had built and IHS’ global scale.  IMS Research asked M&A to advise them in discussions with IHS.  M&A helped Management frame the story properly and spent the time with IHS to ensure that they understood the unique value proposition, growth potential of IMS Research and significant synergies between the two companies.  The two companies quickly entered into exclusive negotiations.

Parties in four different time zones and two different continents provided various logistical challenges to be managed as well.  M&A’s senior team, many of whom have both financial and operational experience, was personally and intimately involved at aiding IMS Research’s shareholders toward a successful completion.

The acquisition of IMS Research is expected to help IHS expand its products and services in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (“TMT”) value chain, and better position IHS to deliver a more robust product offering to its customers in the global technology marketplace.  The IMS Research team believes that their Research suite of products and services are an excellent fit with the existing IHS portfolio of technology information and analytics, and that IMS Research’s research model will provide a platform for IHS to extend into the consumer sentiment space for even greater breadth and depth of content.  IMS Research’s management realized the value from their investment and direct involvement in successfully growing the business.

M&A Role

Marlin & Associates managed the sale process, coordinated negotiations and acted as exclusive strategic and financial advisor to IMS Research.

Press

IHS Acquires IMS Research

March 22, 2012

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Mar 22, 2012 -- IHS Inc., the leading global source of information and analytics, announced today that it has acquired IMS Research, a leading independent provider of market research and consultancy to the global electronics industry, for approximately $46 million.

“The acquisition of IMS Research will help us expand our products and services in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) value chain, and better position IHS to deliver a more robust product offering to our customers in the global technology marketplace,” said IHS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jerre Stead. “The annual delivery nature of the IMS Research business is also an excellent fit for our subscription-based model.”

IMS Research provides premium research with proprietary data and in-depth market insight to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component manufacturers and systems suppliers in the global electronics industry. The company's products and services include syndicated market studies, custom research, consultancy services and events that deliver comprehensive, value-add data and in-depth actionable market intelligence, across the technology spectrum. It serves diverse industries across the technology spectrum, from semiconductors and wireless to industrial systems and alternative energy, helping clients in more than 50 countries better understand markets and shape strategies.

“We are very excited to be joining an organization that shares our passion for delivering an exceptional customer experience,” said IMS Research Founder and Chief Executive Officer Matthew Towers. “The IMS Research suite of products and services are an excellent fit with the existing IHS portfolio of technology information and analytics, and our research model provides a platform for IHS to extend into the consumer sentiment space for even greater breadth and depth of content.”

IMS Research was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Wellingborough, U.K. The company employs more than 140 people in the U.K., U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

Marlin & Associates served as financial advisor to IMS Research .

About IHS ( www.ihs.com )

IHS is the leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 165 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS employs more than 5,500 people in more than 30 countries around the world.

About IMS Research ( www.imsresearch.com )

IMS Research is a leading independent supplier of market research and consultancy to the global electronics industry, offering syndicated market studies, custom research and consultancy services. Clients include most of the household names in the industry. IMS Research has offices in Europe, the US, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

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