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Mr. Laird, 62, has worked in the Database Information industry since 1986, when he created the first template for the analysis of the industry as a senior securities analyst at Hambrecht & Quist. Prior to founding Laird², he was Managing Director of the Database Information Strategic Industry Group at Veronis, Suhler & Associates Inc. for ten years. Mr. Laird’s professional and transactions experience include:
In the marketing information services sector: The sale of Current Analysis West - the leading provider of competitive response data, tools and analysis to IT manufacturers, resellers, and buyers - by Current Analysis to The NPD Group, the leading provider of consumer and retail market research information for a wide range of industries;
The sale of ARBOR, Inc. Market Research & Consulting, a leading provider of brand health tracking and allied marketing research services in several industry verticals, to GfK AG, a global market research leader headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany;
The sale of the database assets of Sheldon I. Dorenfest & Associates, Ltd., the premier source of sales and marketing information for healthcare information technology vendors, to HIMSS Analytics, the for-profit subsidiary of the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS);
The sale of ARS, Inc., the leading provider of worldwide competitive intelligence and channel analysis to IT manufacturers, resellers, and buyers, to Current Analysis, Inc.
The sale of the RADAR assets of Statistical Research, Inc. (“SRI”), a leader in media audience measurement, to Arbitron, Inc. (NYSE: ARB); and the sale of SRI’s custom research assets to Knowledge Networks, Inc.;
The financing of Luxury Link, the leading Internet marketing and e-merchant channel for luxury travel properties, by The Gannett Company/USAToday.com (NYSE: GCI);
The merger of Database America Companies, Inc., a leading integrated supplier of data processing, analytical services, and databases for the direct marketing industry, with American Business Information, Inc. (now infoUSA – NASDAQ: IUSA);
The financing of the World Wide Web ratings company, Media Metrix, by Greylock Management Corporation, Oak Investment Partners, and Venrock Associates, on behalf of The NPD Group, the founder;
The formation of the joint venture partnership between Video Monitoring Services of America and VNU’s Radio TV Reports, now controlled by BurrellesLuce;
The sale of Spectra Marketing to VNU;
The formation of the Competitive Media Reporting (CMR) joint venture between VNU Marketing Information Services and Ceridian’s Arbitron division for media advertising expenditure information (now owned by TNS);
The sale of Plog Research, the leading database market research firm for the travel industry, to NFO Worldwide (now part of TNS).
In the financial database sector, Mr. Laird serves on the Board of FactSet Research Systems (NYSE: FDS) and led the following transactions:
Sold StockVal, Inc., a leading graphics-based financial database system, to ADP Financial Information Services, Inc. (now part of Reuters);
Sold a minority equity interest in SNL Securities, Inc., the leading database, research and publishing company specializing in banks, thrifts, REITs, insurance companies, and financial services companies, to VS&A Communications Partners II, L.P.;
Sold Extel Financial, Ltd. (now part of Interactive Data Corp. – NYSE: IDC), on behalf of United Newspapers, to Financial Times/Pearson;
Sold Capital Management Sciences to Data Broadcasting Corporation (now part of Interactive Data Corp.); and
Advised both parties in Summit Partners’ investment in COMPS (Commercial Property Information Services), now part of CoStar (NASDAQ: CSGP).
Other Database Information Services transactions include:
The sale of SDG Oil & Gas, a leading provider of strategic consulting services to the oil & gas industry, to IHS Inc., a global provider of information and decision-support tools and services to the energy, defense, aerospace, construction, electronics, and automotive industries;
The sale of SDG Life Sciences, a leading provider of strategic consulting services to the life sciences industry, to IMS Health, the leading global provider of pharmaceutical market intelligence;
Advised on the initial public offering of The Advisory Board Company (NASDAQ: ABCO), where he also serves on the Board of Directors;
The sale of the GHS, LLC, a leading provider of health risk assessment and health outcomes research to the health insurance industry, to National Research Corporation (NASDAQ: NRCI), the leader in healthcare performance measurement;
The purchase by National Research Corporation of the patient-centered satisfaction business of Picker Institute;
Advised on the initial public offering of The Corporate Executive Board Company (NASDAQ: EXBD);
The sale of the research assets of RHK, Inc. a leading provider of telecommunications research, advisory and consulting services, to UK-based Ovum Ltd.;
Consultation on the sale of ARBOR, Inc. Education and Training to ResCare, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSCR);
The sale of Federal Sources, Inc., the leading provider of database information, research, and consulting services in the public sector information technology market, to PRIMEDIA Information, Inc.;
The sale of Resource Data International Inc. (RDI), the leading provider of databases and strategic studies to the electric power, energy, coal, and natural gas industries, to Pearson’s Financial Times Energy, now part of McGraw-Hill’s Platts energy group;
The sale of Pasha Publications, Inc., the leading provider of pricing, economic and operational information on natural gas, electric power and coal to the energy and financial industries, to Pearson’s Financial Times Energy, now part of McGraw-Hill’s Platts energy group;
The sale of CDB Infotek, a leading online public records database company, to ChoicePoint (NYSE: CPS);
The sale of a minority interest in Jupiter Communications, the leading analyst-based research company focusing exclusively on the Internet, to Gartner Group (NYSE: IT), the leading information technology, analyst-based research organization;
The purchase of Prentice-Hall Legal & Financial Services from Viacom/Paramount on behalf of CDB Infotek and CSC Networks; and
The investment by Summit Partners in MECON, Inc., a leading health care information provider (now part of Solucient).
Prior to joining VS&A in 1989, Mr. Laird was a principal, senior investment analyst, and venture capitalist with Hambrecht & Quist Group. His work as analyst and investment banker involved many leading information companies, including established companies such as Dun and Bradstreet, Reuters and ADP, and emerging growth companies such as Acxiom, Gartner Group, Paychex, Metromail (now part of Experian), and MEDSTAT Systems (now part of Thomson). He completed the sale of Actmedia to Heritage Media in 1989 and worked on investment banking projects involving CCC Information Services, Information America, TRW Information Systems (now Experian), and American City Business Journals. Mr. Laird also managed H&Q’s venture portfolio in the information and marketing services industries. From 1971 to 1985, Mr. Laird served in executive positions at Stillman Maynard & Co., Paine Webber Mitchell Hutchins, and Cyrus J. Lawrence & Sons.
Mr. Laird holds an AB from Franklin & Marshall College and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He participates in functions associated with the Advertising Research Foundation, the Software and Information Industry Association, and the Direct Marketing Association. |
