Simpson Thacher is representing The NPD Group (“NPD”) and Hellman & Friedman (“H&F”) in connection with their entry into a definitive agreement through which Information Resources, Inc. (“IRI”) and NPD will be merged. The combination will create a leading global technology, analytics and data provider that offers clients a view of total retail purchasing and consumption trends powered by advanced, predictive analytics. H&F will lead the ownership group, and existing IRI investors Vestar Capital Partners and New Mountain Capital will retain a significant investment. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.
NPD is a global provider of market information and advisory services in more than 20 industries. IRI is a fast-growing global leader in innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail and media companies.
IRI provides an on-demand, cloud-based technology platform which includes the largest repository of integrated purchase, media, social, causal and loyalty data for more than 5,000 customers around the world.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Atif Azher, Naveed Anwar, Mark Underwood, Michaela Dion, Jack Traylor, Jamie Lee, Ysabel Cubos, Mariel McClenahan, Christian Sheets and Maggie Whalen (M&A); Brian Steinhardt, Dorothy Hector and Kyle Nelson (Banking and Credit); David Rubinsky, Jeannine McSweeney, Patricia Adams, Scott Schilson and Matias Botto (Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits); Russell Light and Andrew Mandelbaum (Tax); Lori Lesser, Alysha Sekhon, Bobbie Burrows and Mark Natividad (Intellectual Property); Timothy Mulvihill (Environmental); Robert Guo, Owen Lysak and Daniel Deacon (Funds); Sara Razi, Antonio Bavasso, John Goheen, Kelly Karapetyan, Ross Ferguson, Henry Llewellyn, Pauline Patat, Andrew Jensen and Susanna Breslin (Antitrust); and Mick Tuesley and Claire DiMario (Regulatory).