M&A Deal Summary

Clarivate Acquires ProQuest

On May 17, 2021, Clarivate acquired information services company ProQuest from ABRY Partners, Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking, Cambridge Information Group and Atairos for 5.3B USD

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is Clarivate’s 4th transaction in the Information Services sector.
  • This is Clarivate’s largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is Clarivate’s 4th transaction in the United States.
  • This is Clarivate’s 1st transaction in Michigan.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2021-05-17
Target ProQuest
Sector Information Services
Buyer(s) Clarivate
Sellers(s) ABRY Partners
Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking
Cambridge Information Group
Atairos
Deal Type Add-on Acquisition
Deal Value 5.3B USD
Advisor(s) Goldman Sachs (Financial)
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson (Legal)

Target

ProQuest

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
ProQuest's corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
ProQuest's corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
ProQuest is an information content and services company. ProQuest technologies serve users across the critical points in research, helping them discover, access, share, create and manage information. ProQuest was formed in 1938 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

Clarivate

London, United Kingdom

Category Company
Founded 1864
Sector Information Services
Employees12,000
Revenue 2.6B USD (2023)
DESCRIPTION

Clarivate is a provider of solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Clarivate bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect, and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. Clarivate was founded in 1864 and is based in London, United Kingdom.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 9 of 14
Sector (Information Services) 4 of 4
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 6 of 11
State (Michigan) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 4 of 7
Year (2021) 1 of 3
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 2
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2020-11-30 Hanlim IPS LTD

Seoul, South Korea

Hanlim IPS Co. LTD provides first-class patent research and consulting service to clients all over the world in four languages: Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. From initial research to maintenance, Hanlim IPS partners with some of the most innovative customers in the world including some divisions of Samsung.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-08-04 Bioinfogate

Barcelona, Spain

Bioinfogate is a provider of analytics solutions in the life sciences and producer of the OFF-X™  portal. The Company's data science products support the discovery and development of better and safer drugs. Bioinfogate was founded in 2016 and is based in Barcelona, Spain.

Buy -

Seller(S) 4

SELLER

ABRY Partners

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1989
PE ASSETS 12.8B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Focused
DESCRIPTION

ABRY Partners is a media and communications focused private equity investment firm. Specific areas of interest include television, publishing, convention/trade shows, for-profit training, couponing, monitoring services, telephone companies, communications towers, music libraries, database providers, wireless communications, and in-store advertisers. ABRY can provide both equity and mezzanine capital, typically committing $20 to $200 million of equity or $15 to $50 million of mezzanine capital per transaction. Prospective transaction situations include buyouts, expansion financings, platform acquisitions, consolidations, and recapitalizations. ABRY Partners was formed in 1989 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 90 of 103
Sector (Information Services) 5 of 5
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 46 of 53
State (Michigan) 1 of 2
Country (United States) 78 of 88
Year (2021) 7 of 12
Size (of disclosed) 2 of 29
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-05-17 illumifin

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

illumifin is a provider of third-party administration and technology services to individual and group insurers. illumifin is a diverse, passionate, and empowered team of insurance specialists committed to the growth and success of its customers. illumifin was founded in 2021 and is based in Greenville, South Carolina.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-05-25 SDI Presence

Chicago, Illinois, United States

SDI Presence is specialized in Infrastructure solutions, including designing and managing large-scale network implementations, network management, and cloud-based solutions. SDI Presence was founded in 1996 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.

Buy -
SELLER

Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking

New York, New York, United States

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1986
PE ASSETS 155.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division is the investment arm of Goldman Sachs. The primary corporate investment group within the Merchant Banking Division is Goldman Sachs' direct investment arm. GS's direct investment arm consists of GS Capital Partners, GS Mezzanine Partners, and GS Growth Partners. GS Capital Partners is the direct corporate equity investment group which seeks LBO, recapitalization, and growth investments to help fund acquisitions, expansions, recapitalizations, restructurings, buyouts, and take privates. GS Capital Partners looks to invest between $50 and $800 million in opportunities in North/South America, Europe, Asia. GS Mezzanine Partners is the junior capital arm of Goldman Sachs. GS Mezzanine looks to invest between $200 million and and $800 million in transactions valued up to $10 billion. Investment proceeds are used to fund leveraged buyouts, expansion financings, recapitalizations, acquisitions, and restructurings. GS Growth looks to invest in growth equity transactions. The unit seeks to commit $20 to $200 million per investment. Other units within GS's merchant banking division include Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Urban Investments. Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division is based in New York City.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 95 of 110
Sector (Information Services) 2 of 2
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 30 of 37
State (Michigan) 4 of 4
Country (United States) 69 of 78
Year (2021) 6 of 15
Size (of disclosed) 6 of 32
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-05-12 Trader Interactive

Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States

Trader Interactive is a provider of online marketplaces and digital marketing products serving the lifestyle vehicles and commercial equipment segments. Trader Interactive is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Sell -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-05-19 Aragen Life Sciences

Hyderabad, India

Aragen Life Sciences is a provider of outsourced discovery, development, and manufacturing services across both large and small molecule platforms. Aragen Life Sciences was founded in 2001 and is based in Hyderabad, India.

Buy -
DESCRIPTION

Cambridge Information Group, Inc. is a family owned global investment firm with a focus on companies in the information services, education and technology sectors. Cambridge Information Group pursues a variety of transaction types, including management buyouts, growth financings, and recapitalizations. Cambridge Information Group was formed in 1971 and is based in New York City.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 3 of 3
Sector (Information Services) 1 of 1
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 2 of 2
State (Michigan) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 2 of 2
Year (2021) 1 of 1
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2016-01-04 MetaMetrics

Durham, North Carolina, United States

MetaMetrics is an education technology organization that offers the only scientifically valid, universal scales for measuring reading and listening (Lexile) as well as math (Quantile). The Lexile and Quantile Frameworks measure student ability and the complexity of the content they encounter. Lexile and Quantile measures and related technologies link assessment to instruction and provide next steps for students of all ages and abilities. MetaMetrics was formed in 1984 and is based in Durham, North Carolina.

Sell -
SELLER

Atairos

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Growth Capital Firm
Founded 2016
PE ASSETS 6.0B USD
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

Atairos is a generalist private equity firm focused on partnering with growth-oriented businesses. Atairos does not have any sector preferences and will consider opportunities across the US. Atairos was formed in 2016 and has offices in New York City and Philadelphia.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 1 of 3
Sector (Information Services) 1 of 1
Type (Add-on Acquisition) 1 of 2
State (Michigan) 1 of 1
Country (United States) 1 of 3
Year (2021) 1 of 3
Size (of disclosed) 1 of 1
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-05-17 Clarivate

London, United Kingdom

Clarivate is a provider of solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Clarivate bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect, and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. Clarivate was founded in 1864 and is based in London, United Kingdom.

Buy -
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2021-11-19 Spectra

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Spectra engages in live events and entertainment. Spectra's network of elite onsite management teams works with municipalities, colleges and universities, private developers, and other client partners to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra was founded in 1996 and is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sell -