IHS Markit

IHS Markit Ltd is a British information provider based in London. It was formed in 2016 with the merger of IHS Inc. and Markit Ltd.

On 30 November 2020, S&P Global and IHS Markit released information about a definitive all-stock deal for around $44 billion, a deal which would be the largest of the year globally, according to Dealogic data

History

IHS

Information Handling Services (IHS) "was founded in 1959 as Information Handling Services to provide information for aerospace engineers through microfilm databases." IHS's founding date refers to a 1959-initiated publication about microfilm begun by an Englewood, Colorado-based former RELX- precursor which Norman L. Cahners' 1945-initiated publishing empire, led by Modern Materials Handling acquired and expanded.

It subsequently grew to incorporate other companies in the information services sector, many dating back to the late 1700s and 1800s. These include Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Global Insight, Jane's Information Group, Carfax, Inc., Prime Publications Limited, and John S. Herold, Inc.

In 2008, IHS acquired Fairplay, a firm that assigns IMO identification numbers for ships, companies and registered owners.

Markit

Markit was founded in 2003 as Mark-it Partners, a financial data provider for daily credit default swap pricing. The company grew via joint ventures and by acquiring other companies, merging with IHS in 2016.

Merger

In 2016, Englewood, Colorado, US–based IHS and London-based Markit merged. Jerre Stead was the chief executive from 2006 to 2013 and from 2015 until the merger with Markit.

IHS Markit acquisitions

• 18 September 2008: IHS Inc. agreed to purchase the economics forecasting organization Global Insight for $200 million.
• 10 June 2013: R.L. Polk, a provider of auto-industry data including used-car history company Carfax, for $1.4 billion.
• 26 September 2017: automotive Mastermind Inc., a provider of predictive analytics and marketing automation for the automotive industry.
• 26 September 2017: Macroeconomic Advisers, an independent research firm forecasting the US economy.
• 3 August 2018: Ipreo, software solutions and data provider in global capital markets.
• 10 October 2019: Novation Analytics, a specialist provider of software solutions, data analysis and advisory services.
• 2019: Acquired Informa's Agriculture Intelligence in exchange for most of IHS Markit's Technology, Media and Telecoms division (including Screen Digest.
• 1 May 2020: Catena Technologies Pte Ltd, a global regulatory trade reporting firm based in Singapore.