Strategic partnership positions SNL’s best-in-class information franchise for continued growth and product innovation
July 26, 2011) Charlottesville, VA and New York, NY – SNL Financial LC and New Mountain Capital, LLC today announce New Mountain’s acquisition of a majority equity stake in SNL. SNL is a leading provider of sector-focused information services on the banking, financial services, insurance, real estate, energy, and media & communications industries. New Mountain is a leading private equity firm that focuses on growth and business building and currently manages approximately $9 billion in assets.
SNL, which has grown its revenues every year since its founding in 1987, will use the proceeds to support and accelerate its growth plans, to continue its product development initiatives, and to provide liquidity to existing shareholders. The investment was privately negotiated, and terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. SNL’s clients should expect continuity in the company’s leadership team, product roadmap, and customer service and support, while benefiting from the greater capital resources available to the company.
“We believe we have found the ideal partner in New Mountain to help us achieve SNL’s next phase of growth,” said Reid Nagle, SNL’s founder. “I will be SNL’s second-largest shareholder after New Mountain. Our talented senior management team, who has run the company since I stepped down from day-to-day involvement in early 2010, will own the remainder. We will now have more resources than ever to achieve our strategic objectives and drive client satisfaction. This is an exciting and positive day for SNL, our employees, and our clients.”
Mike Chinn, SNL’s President and CEO, commented, “New Mountain’s proven track record of working with management teams to build great businesses, along with its capital resources and strong network in the information services space, will allow SNL to expand even more aggressively than in the past. At the same time, we will continue to hold dear to the values of quality, timeliness, completeness and relevance that have defined our culture and our information philosophy over the past 24 years. Working together with New Mountain, we will deliver even better solutions to our clients while generating exciting growth opportunities for our employees.”
“We are excited to partner with the quality leader in the industry,” said Pete Masucci, Managing Director at New Mountain. “Reid, Mike and the rest of the SNL team have built a top-tier information franchise that serves as an excellent foundation for continued growth and success. We recognize and embrace the SNL culture, one that is dedicated to impeccable data quality, superior client service, leading-edge technology, and operational excellence.”
Mr. Masucci continued, “SNL’s leadership team has developed a compelling growth strategy, with substantial organic and acquisition opportunities within the existing SNL product verticals. We look forward to helping the team accelerate the growth in these verticals and potentially into others while preserving the culture and entrepreneurial spirit that are keys to the Company’s success.”
About SNL Financial LC
SNL Financial is a leading provider of financial information on more than 4,000 public companies and 50,000 private companies in business sectors critical to the global economy: banking, financial services, insurance, real estate, energy, and media & communications. SNL’s information services deliver comprehensive data, breaking news, and expert analysis, updated around-the-clock and accessible via web, Excel and mobile platforms. The Company is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia with additional offices in the U.S. and around the globe. For more information, please visit www.SNL.com.
About New Mountain Capital LLC
New Mountain Capital is a New York-based private equity firm investing for long-term capital appreciation through direct investments in growth equity transactions, leveraged acquisitions, and management buyouts. The firm currently manages private and public equity funds with approximately $9 billion in aggregate capital commitments. New Mountain seeks out the highest-quality growth leaders in carefully selected industry sectors and then works intensively with management to build the value of these companies. For more information on New Mountain Capital, please visit nmcapdev.wpenginepowered.com.
Lowenstein Sandler PC and Dennis Rooker PC served as legal counsel to SNL Financial. New Mountain Capital was advised by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP as legal counsel and Gleacher & Company as M&A advisor.
Media Contact:
Christina Twomey
SNL Financial
One SNL Plaza
Charlottesville, VA 22902
main 434.977.1600
direct 434.951.6914