LAS VEGAS -

An initial public offering and “growth through acquisition” are on the radar for new J.D. Power new chief executive Dave Habiger

Seated in front of a smattering of media members during an informal press briefing here at the J.D. Power Automotive Summit on the day after he was announced as the new CEO last month, Habiger said the company will continue to be a partner for dealer associations, dealers and automakers.

And increasingly a technological one.

That will largely be fueled through acquisitions, with the priority being companies that will help solve “pain points” for J.D. Power dealer and OEM customers, Habiger said.

And discussions with customers about potential targets have already begun.

For instance, potential targets could be companies that are important to customers that aren’t under the J.D. Power umbrella, or outfits that provide “similar technology and data and analytics,” as J.D. Power.

Habiger said the company will lean on OEMs and dealers to help identify potential acquisition targets that would be good fits.

“But it doesn’t change the strategy of the business or the direction,” he said. “It simply amplifies, accelerates what we’ve done and will continue to do.”

As far as timing on purchases, Habiger said there would be many before a potential IPO, but also some after.

“But they’ll be sooner than later,” he said.

While a J.D. Power IPO is an “option” and not a definite, Habiger said he “can certainly say it’s something we’re working towards and a likely outcome.”

Should an IPO occur, it would likely be in the next 12 to 18 months, he said.

Regardless, Habiger expects organic growth to continue, as well.

“I would very clearly state, this is a growing business,” Habiger said. “This company has been growing at a rate that is quite good. It’s a very profitable business. And we will organically grow going forward, and with or without an IPO.

“The acquisitions, I think, should accelerate that growth, but more importantly help us, again, be the technology provider to the automotive industry, to the dealer channel, to the OEMs,” Habiger said.

This is perhaps colored by what he described as the industry being at an “inflexion point,” with things like autonomy, ride-sharing, online sales and so forth.  

“You’ve got real fundamental shifts in the industry and we want to be there to help the existing customer base be more profitable, have happier customers, help with their sales, their service, their maintenance,” Habiger said.

Though he didn’t put a specific number on how many acquisitions the company would make, Habiger said J.D. Power is “open to talking with anyone” and that it is eyeing companies of its own size or larger.

Editor's Note: Updated to correct spelling of Habiger.