IHS Inc and Markit Ltd have signed a definitive agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-share merger of equals to create a global leader in critical information, analytics and solutions. Based on the closing prices of IHS and Markit common stock, the implied equity value of the transaction is more than $13 billion. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of each company.
Upon completion of the merger, the combined company will be renamed IHS Markit and will be headquartered in London and have certain key operations based in Englewood, Colorado.
IHS Markit will be a leader in critical information, analytics and solutions, and will have non-overlapping customers and products, a strong financial profile and a world-class management team. The company will also deliver next-generation information and analytics products to help customers improve decision making. IHS Markit will have more than 50,000 key customers, including 75 percent of the Fortune Global 500, creating significant cross-selling opportunities across multiple commercial industries and governments. The combined company’s reported results for fiscal year 2015 include approximately: $3.3 billion in revenue, $1.2 billion in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), and $800 million in free cash flow.