XIO Group to Acquire J.D. Power from McGraw Hill Financial for $1.1 Billion

NEW YORK AND LONDON, April 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- XIO Group, a global alternative investments firm headquartered in London, today announced that it will acquire J.D. Power, a world leader in consumer data and analytics, from McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. (NYSE: MHFI) for a purchase price of $1.1 billion.

The parties have entered into a definitive agreement and anticipate that the transaction will close during the third quarter of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions. Upon closing, XIO Group will support J.D. Power's existing management team and employees in expanding the company's market share, particularly in fast-growing Asian markets.

J.D. Power, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, is a world leader in consumer data and analytics that has been representing the voice of the consumer across industries since 1968. With 16 offices globally, J.D. Power's more than 800 professionals provide transaction analytics and consumer insights for its blue-chip customer base.

"J.D. Power has built a unique and trusted brand for over 40 years and we are extremely optimistic about the long-term prospects of the company," said Joseph Pacini, Chief Executive Officer of XIO Group. "The world-class management team of J.D. Power has continuously developed data-driven solutions for its blue-chip customers in order to help them better respond to consumer preferences in increasingly competitive markets. We are committed to investing in the business to keep developing innovative solutions for the company's customers as well as expanding its presence in international markets."

Carsten Geyer, Partner of XIO Group, continued, "The acquisition of J.D. Power ideally fits XIO Group's strategy to invest in market-leading businesses in North America and Europe with untapped potential for global expansion."  

"The entire team at XIO Group has appreciated getting to know J.D. Power's President Fin O'Neill and his first-class team over the past few months. We are fully committed to dedicate our best resources behind their continued success," stated Jean-Daniel Bertoncini, Director of XIO Group.

"We are very pleased with this outcome. The transaction represents good value for our shareholders and positions J.D. Power for continued success," said McGraw Hill Financial President and Chief Executive Officer Douglas L. Peterson.  "J.D. Power is a phenomenal brand.  We are proud of all of the contributions J.D. Power employees have made to this Company."

"We are thrilled that XIO Group recognizes the value of the J.D. Power brand and is committed to maintaining our core brand identity and values while helping us grow and expand," said Fin O'Neill, President of J.D. Power.  "We believe this next chapter will allow us to increase our insights across a broader spectrum of consumer interaction, a more extensive global footprint, and an increasingly digital, connected and mobile society."

The transaction is XIO Group's first acquisition of a company headquartered in the United States, following previous acquisitions of industry-leading companies located in Germany and Israel in 2015. The XIO Group team considers the acquisition of J.D. Power a landmark transaction for the firm in the North American market and a demonstration of the firm's long-term commitment to the region. 

XIO Group would like to extend its sincere appreciation for the high-quality support from its advisors, Moelis & Company LLC, who served as financial advisor to XIO Group as well as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP who served as XIO Group's legal advisor.

About XIO Group
Headquartered in London, XIO Group is a global alternative investments firm that employs an international team of more than 60 professionals. Representing more than 15 nationalities among its employees and its network of advisors, the firm has operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Israel, Hong Kong, and mainland China. With a seasoned international investment team that includes professionals with experience working at many of the world's leading private equity firms, XIO Group seeks to deploy over $5 billion of committed capital for global transactions. XIO Group's strategy is to identify and invest in market-leading businesses located across North America and Europe and help these companies to capitalize on untapped opportunities in fast growing markets, particularly in Asia.

About J.D. Power
J.D. Power, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, is a world leader in consumer data and analytics that has been representing the voice of the consumer since 1968. The company is known for its independent consumer surveys of product and service quality, customer satisfaction, and buyer behavior in more than a dozen industries including automotive, financial services, insurance, energy, and telecommunications. For more than forty years, J.D. Power has been listening to consumers and business customers, analyzing their opinions and perceptions, and refining research techniques and study methodologies to offer essential market intelligence. The company's high quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Established in 1968 and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, J.D. Power has 17 locations serving North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region.

About McGraw Hill Financial
McGraw Hill Financial is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Global Market Intelligence, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL, and J.D. Power. The Company has approximately 20,000 employees in 31 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE XIO Group