Global information provider, The NPD Group (NPD), has entered into an agreement to be acquired by global PE firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F). NPD Executive Chairman Tod Johnson and CEO Karyn Schoenbart are to retain a minority stake in the business and continue to serve on the NPD board of directors.

“In a period of rapid change, NPD has helped guide our clients with omnichannel data, industry expertise, and analytics to help them understand unprecedented market shifts,” said NPD CEO Karyn Schoenbart. “It has been exciting to play an increasingly important role in the strategies of our clients by providing insight into what is happening today and what to anticipate in the future. 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.”

“Rapidly evolving consumer expectations and the growth of e-commerce are accelerating the pace of change in the retail landscape. In an environment of unknowns, the ability for companies to use omnichannel analytics to measure and improve performance is more important than ever before, and NPD is extremely well positioned to provide these critical insights to its customers and retail partners,” said Blake Kleinman, Partner at H&F.

Founded in 1966, NPD is currently the eighth largest market research company worldwide, with operations in the Americas, Europe, and APAC, covering more than 20 industries. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2021, subject to the entry into the definitive sale agreement and satisfaction of the conditions set forth therein. Jefferies LLC is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP is acting as legal advisor to NPD. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal advisor to H&F.