Douglas County-based . announced late Sunday that it intends to acquire ., a publisher of business directories founded in 1870.
Polk, based in Southfield, Mich., announced three months ago that it was seeking a buyer.
IHS said it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Polk and that the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
How much IHS is paying for Polk was not announced, but the company said more information would be released Monday.
Polk collects and interprets global data. It provides automotive business data that helps customers understand their market position and identify trends. Polk also helps automotive manufacturers and dealers, media companies and advertising agencies.
Among its business units are CarFax, an online service that tracks used-car histories.
IHS provides information, insight and analysis in energy, product design and engineering, security and military operations, and environmental issues.
IHS employs approximately 5,900 people in more than 30 countries. Polk has more than 1,200 employees in 11 countries.
In June 2012, IHS announced it was acquiring GlobalSpec Inc. for $135 million. GlobalSpec is a technology company that provides a search engine of engineering and industrial products for more than 24,000 manufacturers.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939, hpankratz@denverpost.com or twitter.com/howardpankratz
