Investor Hellman & Friedman to Buy The NPD Group

Retail data provider The NPD Group is to be acquired by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F), with NPD Executive Chairman Tod Johnson and CEO Karyn Schoenbart retaining a minority stake in the business and continuing to serve on the Board.

The deal is subject to a consultation process with NPD's employee-works council, and ratification by shareholders; and is expected to close by the end of the year.

NPD was founded in 1966 and was ranked the tenth largest US insights & data firm in the Insights Association's recent Top 50 Report. The group has operations in nineteen countries in the Americas, Europe and APAC, covering more than 20 industries. Its soon-to-be new owner H&F focuses on large-scale equity investments in businesses in sectors including software & technology, financial services, healthcare, consumer & retail, and other business services.

Johnson - who has been Chairman of The NPD Group and its predecessors since 1971 and served as CEO until 2017, comments: 'H&F shares our focus on long-term growth, and has the resources and expertise to not only continue but also accelerate NPD's momentum and long track record of success. Both Karyn and I are delighted to have the opportunity to partner as minority investors alongside H&F as we work in close collaboration on a long-term strategic plan and transition over time to the next generation of NPD leadership'. Schoenbart (pictured), a 38-year veteran of the company, says: 'We expect H&F to continue our tradition of client partnership and innovation with new products, data sources, and next generation platforms to make our information even more comprehensive, accessible, and actionable'.

Philip Hammarskjold, Executive Chairman of H&F comments: 'Trusted by more than 2,000 customers in 19 countries, NPD is a market leader in its categories with an outstanding value proposition for customers and retailers. Tod and Karyn have led the company to great heights, and we look forward to working closely with them to build on this strong momentum',

Web sites: www.npd.com and www.hf.com .