IHS Inc. has announced the acquisition of Norwalk, CT-based John S. Herold, Inc., an independent research firm that provides in-depth analyses and key financial and operational data on more than 400 global oil and gas companies.


IHS acquired Herold for approximately US $48 million in an all-cash transaction. This acquisition was done at a market multiple of revenue and the Herold’s business reports EBITDA margins in line with current IHS margins. IHS expects this acquisition to be accretive to both EBITDA margins and adjusted EPS in 2008.


“John S. Herold shares with IHS a vision to provide high-quality critical information and insight and adds commercial evaluations and company fundamental analyses to the extensive IHS oil and gas industry data, technical evaluations and research,” said Ron Mobed, president and chief operating officer, IHS Energy. “This acquisition expands the IHS offerings in critical information and insight for clients in operating companies and banking and investment communities, thus broadening and deepening the reach of IHS across the energy sector.”


Herold, founded in 1948, is a uniquely positioned information services company providing online transaction databases and deal analyses essential to understanding and executing energy mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions. Its client base is comprised of virtually every major oil and gas company, the world’s leading commercial and investment banks, and top institutional and investment money managers. Herold also serves clients with focused consulting services and the highly regarded annual Pacesetters Energy Conference.


"The data, information and research capabilities of Herold and IHS are natural and complementary and will enable critical insights from the wellhead to Wall Street," said Art Smith, John S. Herold Inc. chairman and chief executive officer. "Importantly, the extensive well- and field-level data from IHS will enhance Herold's research, valuation and project analyses and allow Herold, as a business unit of IHS, to better serve our collective clients."

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