J.D. Power, a data analytics firm, has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Autovista Group, a pan-European and Australian automotive data, analytics and industry insights firm. This complements J.D. Power’s strengths in vehicle valuation and detailed vehicle specification data while broadening its footprint into the European and Australian automotive markets.
What does this mean for the Automotive industry?
The deal also creates strong value for customers of both companies by bringing together Autovista Group’s comprehensive European and Australian market intelligence with J.D. Power’s market-leading predictive analytics and valuation and customer experience datasets.
Additionally, these highly complementary offerings will give original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), dealers, insurers and financing companies a comprehensive global view of critical trends influencing the industry, along with the tools they need to accurately forecast risk, capitalize on burgeoning trends and align sales strategy with real-time market dynamics.
Through its five leading brands—Autovista, Eurotax, Glass’s, Schwacke and Rødboka—Autovista Group standardizes and categorizes hundreds of technical attributes for virtually every vehicle produced in the European and Australian markets, providing clients with a 360-degree view of detailed vehicle data for use in valuations, forecasts and repair estimates.
In addition, its robust analytic solutions and committed team of experienced analysts are heavily relied upon by different stakeholders throughout the automobile industry for detailed insights and benchmarks for vehicle values and ownership, repair and replacement costs.
What does this mean for J.D. Power?
“Precise vehicle valuations and detailed vehicle specifications are the central underpinning to every data-driven strategy in the automotive industry—from optimizing vehicle production to calculating residual values to all manner of insurance—and finance-related risk assessment and repair models, and the combined assets of J.D. Power and Autovista Group will create global valuation and forecasting solutions,” said Dave Habiger, President and CEO, J.D. Power.
“Additionally, as U.S. consumers increasingly adopt the European model of configuring and ordering a custom vehicle specification, rather than picking whatever the dealer has on the lot, Autovista’s detailed, vehicle-specific data and analytics will give OEMs critical information they need to navigate this change in consumer behavior. We are excited for the Autovista team to join J.D. Power and for the future growth opportunities we will pursue together.”
“The addition of Autovista Group broadens our global presence allowing us to serve clients across key markets including North America, Europe and Asia/Australia. We look forward to partnering with the Autovista team to launch new products and pursue strategic add-on acquisitions in Europe and Australia,” said Pete Cimmet, Chief Strategy Officer at J.D. Power.
What does this mean for Autovista?
“The global automobile industry is undergoing a historic transformation in which an ever-increasing array of models and fuel types, volatile swings in used car values and lingering supply chain challenges are making it more difficult than ever to project future value and understand total cost of ownership,” commented Lindsey Roberts, CEO at Autovista.
“By pairing our leading pan-Europe- and Australia-focused datasets with J.D. Power’s robust North American and Asian market data, analytics and insights, we are creating the truly global solution the industry needs to manage through this period of radical change,” Roberts said.
Autovista Group’s senior leadership and its 700 employees will continue with the company and will become J.D. Power’s automotive data and analytics platform for Europe and Australia. Lindsey Roberts will continue to lead the team as President, J.D. Power Europe reporting to Chief Executive Officer Dave Habiger. Autovista Group is currently owned by Hayfin Capital Management, a leading European alternative asset management firm.
“It has been a pleasure working with Lindsey Roberts and the Autovista team. Together, we have grown the business and executed the strategy to become a purely digital play and better serve the increasingly digital automotive ecosystem. We look forward to watching the firm’s continued success as part of J.D. Power,” said Carlos Pla, Portfolio Manager at Hayfin.
The acquisition of Autovista Group is expected to close by the end of 2023 and is subject to customary closing conditions as well as regulatory review and approval. RBC Capital Markets served as exclusive financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to J.D. Power.
TD Cowen served as exclusive financial advisor and Macfarlanes, Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Mishcon de Reya were legal advisors to Autovista Group and Hayfin in the transaction.
