Reed Elsevier is to acquire the entire issued share capital of Accuity Holdings Inc. from Investcorp, a global investment firm, for a consideration of £343m payable in cash.
Accuity is a US provider of online subscription-based data solutions for the financial services industry which enable customers to maximise the accuracy of their banking and payment transactions, and to minimise the risk of non-compliance with government regulations in these transactions. Accuity is a highly complementary business with both Reed Elsevier’s Bankers’ Almanac and the financial services business of LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
Reed Business Information CEO Mark Kelsey said: “Bankers’ Almanac and Accuity are both strong brands with highly complementary products and strengths and excellent geographic fit. The combination of the two companies will enable us to offer customers much more comprehensive products and services to meet their developing needs.”
Accuity operates in three principal segments:
- Payment Efficiency: provision of bank routing data files, filters, directories and look-up tools which enable financial institutions and corporates to execute transactions globally, increasing straight-through-processing rates, and reducing errors and costs;
- Risk Reduction: provision of data and software solutions that enable financial institutions and corporates to screen against sanctioned and high risk entities and people through customer filtering, account screening and transaction monitoring; and
- National Regulatory Services: provision of workflow, information and consultancy services which help investment institutions remain compliant with regulations.
Accuity is, like Bankers’ Almanac, an online data business with subscription-based revenues, 95%+ customer retention rates and double digit revenue growth. It has offices across the US and in the UK, and provides solutions to the banking financial services, corporate and government communities with over 14,000 clients, including most of the world’s leading financial institutions and all of the top 25 US banks. Accuity has over 300 staff and is based in Skokie, Illinois, United States.
Accuity will be integrated with Bankers’ Almanac and will share the combined data assets with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The CEO of Accuity is joining Reed Elsevier to run the enlarged business within the data businesses of Reed Business Information.
The acquisition will be accretive to Reed Elsevier’s adjusted earnings from the outset, with post tax returns expected to cover its weighted average cost of capital by the third year. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
James M. Peck, CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions said: “Accuity is a business with prestigious content, in an attractive space with strong fundamental growth characteristics. The combination will provide our customers with expanded resources to contribute further to managing their AML and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.”
The Netherlands, Amsterdam & USA, Skokie, IL
Related articles
- Elsevier acquires oncology journal portfolio From Cancer Information Group Posted on February 4, 2011
- Martini Media Network raises $6 million led by Reed Elsevier Ventures Posted on June 14, 2010
- EPPG acquires Reed Business Information GmbH Posted on April 20, 2010
- RBI-US sells Publishers Weekly to former publisher George Slowik Posted on April 6, 2010
- Sandow Media acquires Interior Design and Furniture Today from Reed Business Information-US Posted on March 19, 2010
- Reed Business Information-US sells School Library Journal and Library Journal to Media Source Posted on March 1, 2010
- Canon Communications acquires design engineering media properties from RBI-US Posted on February 16, 2010: Updated on March 1, 2010
Fusion Corporate Partners 
You must be logged in to post a comment.