IHS Inc., a global provider of technical information, decision-support tools and strategic services, Thursday said it had agreed to pay $48 million cash for John S. Herold Inc., a Norwalk, CT-based independent research firm founded in 1948 that provides analyses and financial and operational data on more than 400 global oil and gas companies.

Ron Mobed, IHS president, said Herold “adds commercial evaluations and company fundamental analyses to the extensive IHS oil and gas industry data, technical evaluations and research. This acquisition expands the IHS offerings in critical information and insight for clients in operating companies and banking and investment communities, thus broadening and deepening the reach of IHS across the energy sector.”

Herold provides on-line transaction databases and deal analyses essential to understanding and executing energy mergers and acquisitions and capital markets transactions. Its client base is composed of virtually every major oil and gas company, the world’s leading commercial and investment banks and top institutional and investment money managers. Herold also serves clients with focused consulting services and the annual Pacesetters Energy Conference.

IHS data and services are used primarily by the energy, defense, aerospace, construction, electronics and automotive industries. Its clients range from governments and large multinational corporations to smaller companies and technical professionals in more than 100 countries. The company has been in business for nearly 50 years and employs more than 3,000 people in 35 locations around the world.

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