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Exhibit 10.5    
    

November 1,
2004 

Mr. John
Oechsle

c/o IHS Group Inc.

15 Inverness Way East

Englewood, CO 80112 

Dear
John: 

This
letter, written on behalf of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of IHS Group Inc., a Delaware corporation formerly known as
HAIC Inc. (the "Company"), confirms the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company. 

        1.    Term of Employment.    Your employment under this Letter Agreement is effective as of the date hereof (the
"Effective Date") and, subject to termination as provided in Sections 7 or 8, will end on the first anniversary of the Effective Date;  provided that
on each anniversary of the Effective Date, the term of your employment will automatically be extended by an additional year unless the
Company or you give the other party written notice, at least 30 days prior to the applicable anniversary of the Effective Date, that you do not or it does not want the term to be so extended.
Such employment period, as may be so extended, will hereinafter be referred to as the "Term". 

        2.    Title and Duties.    

        (a)   Position. During the Term, you will be employed by the Company as Sr. Vice President, CIO, IHS Group. You will have such
duties and responsibilities and power and authority as assigned to you by the Board or the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the
"CEO"). 

        (b)   Exclusive Duties. During your employment by the Company, you will devote substantially all your entire working time,
attention and energies to the business of the Company and its Affiliates (as defined below) and will not, without the prior written consent of the Board undertake any other business activities.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you will not take any actions of the kind described in Section 11. 

        3.    Base Salary.    During the Term, the Company will pay you a minimum base salary at the annual rate of $247,000,
payable in accordance with the Company's regular payroll practices. The Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Committee") will review your base
salary annually and may, in its sole discretion, increase your base salary based on your performance and the Company's performance. Such base salary, as may be increased, will hereinafter be referred
to as your "Base Salary". 

        4.    Bonus.    During the Term, you will be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the "Annual
Bonus") pursuant to the Company's then current annual incentive plan. The performance objectives for your Annual Bonus will be determined by the CEO. 

        5.    Annual Long-Term Incentive Grant.    During the Term, you will be eligible to receive such
long-term incentive grant, consisting of stock options, restricted stock, other equity-based awards, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee (the
"Equity Grant"). The size and terms of the Equity Grant will be determined by the Committee based on your performance and the Company's performance, as
well as the terms of the equity compensation plan under which the Equity Grant is granted. The Company intends to amend its Certificate of Incorporation to authorize the Company to issue up to
80,000,000 shares of class A common stock. As soon as practicable after such amendment, the Company will grant you 17,000 shares of restricted stock and/or restricted stock units. The
restricted stock and/or restricted stock units will vest 25% on the second anniversary of the Effective Date, 25% on the third anniversary of the Effective Date and 50% on the fourth anniversary of
the Effective Date. 

 

        6.    Other Benefits.    

        (a)   Employee Benefits. You will be eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements
maintained by the Company. 

        (b)   Vacation. You will be entitled to not less than 24 days of paid vacation per calendar year in accordance with the
Company's vacation policy as in effect from time to time. 

        (c)   Reimbursement. The Company will reimburse you for all reasonable expenses and disbursements in carrying out your duties
and responsibilities under this Letter Agreement in accordance with Company policy for executive officers as in effect from time to time. 

        7.    Termination of Employment (Non-Change in Control).    Subject to Section 9: 

        (a)   Resignation for Good Reason or Termination Without Cause. If you terminate your employment for Good Reason (as defined
below) or you are terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined below) at any time during the Term, including by the Company giving you notice that it does not want the Term to be extended as
provided in Section 1, you will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of: 

        (i)    any
earned but unpaid Base Salary or other amounts (including reimbursable expenses and any vested amounts or benefits owing under or in accordance with the Company's
otherwise applicable employee benefit plans or programs, including retirement plans and programs) accrued or owing through the date of termination; 

        (ii)   an
amount equal to 9 months of your then Base Salary plus an additional month of your then Base Salary for each year of your employment with the Company and/or
an Affiliate both prior to and subsequent to the Effective Date, up to a maximum aggregate amount under this subclause (ii) equal to 2 years of your then Base Salary; and 

        (iii)  your
Target Bonus for such year, prorated for the number of days that have elapsed during such year. 

In
addition to the foregoing lump-sum payment: 

        (w)  the
Company will continue your participation in the Company's medical, dental and vision plans (or if you are ineligible to continue to participate under the terms
thereof, in substitute arrangements adopted by the Company providing substantially comparable benefits) for the Relevant Period (as defined below) following the date of such termination; 

        (x)   vesting
of unvested stock options, restricted stock and other equity awards then held by you will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
applicable equity compensation plan under which each such Equity Grant is granted; 

        (y)   outplacement
services during the 6-month period following such termination provided by a service provider selected by the Company for the benefit of the
executive officers of the Company; and 

        (z)   you
will be credited with 2 additional years for the purposes of each of the age and service requirements of any retirement related employee benefit plans, programs and
arrangements maintained by the Company and/or its Affiliates in which you participated at the time of such termination. 

For
purposes of this Letter Agreement, the Relevant Period means, in the event you receive payments pursuant to Sections 7(a)(ii) or 8(a)(ii), the period following termination of your
employment equal to the total number of months upon which the payments thereunder are calculated, up to a maximum period of 2 years. Credit for the year in which termination occurs will 

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be
given for purposes of calculating payments pursuant to Sections 7(a)(ii) or 8(a)(ii) if you have completed six months or more of service beyond the prior anniversary date of your
employment. 

        (b)   Termination Other than for Good Reason or for Cause. If you terminate your employment other than for Good Reason
(including if you give notice that you do not want to extend the Term as provided in Section 1) or if your employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, you will receive no further
payments, compensation or benefits under this Letter Agreement, except you will be eligible to receive, immediately upon the effectiveness of such termination, amounts (including reimbursable expenses
and any vested amounts or benefits owing under or in accordance with the Company's otherwise applicable employee benefit plans or programs, including retirement plans and programs) accrued or owing
prior to the effectiveness of your termination and such compensation or benefits that have been earned and will become payable without regard to future services. 

        (c)   Death, Disability or Retirement. If your employment terminates by reason of death, Disability or retirement (as defined
in the Company's equity compensation plan then in effect), you or your beneficiaries will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of: 

        (i)    any
earned but unpaid Base Salary or other amounts (including reimbursable expenses and any vested amounts or benefits owing under or in accordance with the Company's
otherwise applicable employee benefit plans or programs, including retirement plans and programs) accrued or owing through the date of termination; and 

        (ii)   your
Target Bonus for such year, prorated for the number of days that have elapsed during such year. 

If
your employment terminates by reason of your retirement, then in addition to benefits to which you may be entitled pursuant to this Letter Agreement, your entitlements in connection with a
termination of your employment pursuant to your retirement under the Company's otherwise applicable employee benefit and retirement plans and programs (including without limitation under the Company's
equity compensation plans), will be determined in accordance with such applicable plans and programs. 

For
purposes of this Letter Agreement, "Good Reason" means the Company's breach of any of its material obligations under this Letter Agreement,
excluding immaterial actions (or failures of action) not taken (or omitted to be taken) in bad faith and which, if capable of being remedied, are remedied by the Company within 30 days of
receipt of notice thereof given by you. For purposes of this Letter Agreement, "Cause" means any of the following: (i) conviction of or pleading
guilty to a felony, (ii) commission of intentional acts of misconduct that materially impair the goodwill or business of the Company or cause material damage to its property, goodwill or
business, or (iii) willful refusal or willful failure to perform your material duties under this Letter Agreement after written demand that you do so. Termination of the employment shall not be
deemed to be for Cause hereunder unless and until (A) written notice has been delivered to you by the Company which specifically identifies the Cause which is the basis of the termination and,
if the Cause is capable of cure, you have failed to cure or remedy the act or omission so identified within 14 calendar days after written notice of such breach. For purposes of this provision, no act
or failure to act on your part shall be considered "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by you in bad faith or without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best
interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause without reasonable notice to you setting forth the reasons, facts and circumstances
for the Company's intention to terminate for Cause and an opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the Committee or the Board. 

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        8.    Change in Control.    Subject to Section 9: 

        (a)   General. If there is a Change in Control (as defined below) and, within 1 year of such Change in Control, you
terminate your employment for CIC Good Reason (as defined below) or you are terminated by the Company without Cause, you will receive a lump-sum cash payment equal to the sum of: 

        (i)    any
earned but unpaid Base Salary or other amounts (including reimbursable expenses and any vested amounts or benefits owing under or in accordance with the Company's
otherwise applicable
employee benefit plans or programs, including retirement plans and programs) accrued or owing through the date of termination; 

        (ii)   an
amount equal to 9 months of your then Base Salary plus an additional month of your then Base Salary for each year of your employment with the Company and/or
an Affiliate both prior to and subsequent to the Effective Date, up to a maximum aggregate amount under this subsclause (ii) equal to 2 years of your then Base Salary; and 

        (iii)  your
Target Bonus for the fiscal year of such termination, prorated for the number of days that have elapsed during such year. 

In
addition to the foregoing lump-sum payment: 

        (w)  the
Company will continue your participation in the Company's medical, dental and vision plans (or if you are ineligible to continue to participate under the terms
thereof, in substitute arrangements adopted by the Company providing substantially comparable benefits), for the Relevant Period following the date of such termination; 

        (x)   all
unvested stock options, restricted stock and other equity awards then held by you will fully vest and become exercisable as of the effective date of such
termination; 

        (y)   outplacement
services during the 6-month period following such termination provided by a service provider selected by the Company for the benefit of the
executive officers of the Company; and 

        (z)   you
will be credited with 2 additional years for the purposes of each of the age and service requirements of any retirement related employee benefit plans, programs and
arrangements maintained by the Company and/or its Affiliates, in which you participated at the time of such termination. 

For
purposes of this Letter Agreement, "Change in Control" means the first to occur of: 

	(i)
	the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as from time to
time amended) of the beneficial ownership of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding securities of the Company;

	(ii)
	a
merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the
Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation hold, in the aggregate, securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the
surviving entity immediately after such merger or consolidation;

	(iii)
	a
reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all outstanding
voting securities of the Company are transferred to or acquired by a person or persons different from the persons holding directly or indirectly those securities immediately prior to such merger; 

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	(iv)
	the
sale, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

	(v)
	the
approval by the shareholders of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

	(vi)
	as
a result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination
of the foregoing transactions (a "Transaction"), the persons who are members of the board of directors of the Company before the Transaction will cease
to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Company or any successor thereto. 

Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in no event will a Change in Control be considered to have occurred as a result of: (i) the distribution by the Company to its stockholder(s) of stock in an
Affiliate; (ii) the contribution by the Company of some or all of its assets in a transaction governed by Section 351 of the Code; (iii) any inter-company sale or transfer of
assets between the Company and any Affiliate; (iv) a dividend distribution by the Company; (v) a loan by the Company to any third party or an Affiliate; (vi) a Transaction, or
series of Transactions, after which an Affiliate of the Company before such Transaction or series of Transactions, is either directly or indirectly in control of the Company thereafter;
(vii) if the controlling shareholder is a trust, the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of the
beneficial ownership of securities of the Company by any beneficiary of such trust if such beneficiary has a greater than 25% interest in such trust, or any descendants, spouse, estate or heirs of any
such beneficiary, or a trust established for such beneficiary or for any descendants, spouse or heirs of such beneficiary; or (viii) the first underwritten primary public offering of the shares
of common stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any similar or
successor form) under the Securities Act of 1933, as from time to time amended. For purposes of this Agreement, "Affiliate" means any individual,
corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated association or other entity (other than the Company) that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, including, without limitation, any member of an affiliated group of which the Company is a common parent corporation as
provided in Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended (the "Code"). 

For
purposes of this Letter Agreement, "CIC Good Reason" means any of: 

	(i)
	the
material diminution of your position (including status, titles and reporting relationships), duties or responsibilities, excluding immaterial actions not taken in
bad faith;

	(ii)
	the
breach by the Company of any of its material obligations under this Letter Agreement, excluding immaterial actions (or failures or action) not taken (or omitted to
be taken) in bad faith and which, if capable of being remedied, are remedied by the Company within 30 days after receipt of notice thereof given by you;

	(iii)
	the
Company's relocation of your principal location of work by more than 50 miles (other than any relocation recommended or consented to by you); it being understood,
however, that you may be required to travel on business to other locations as may be required or desirable in connection with the performance of your duties as specified in this Letter Agreement. 

        (b)   Tax Indemnity. If it is determined that any payments and benefits that you receive from the Company or an Affiliate as a
result of the Change in Control will result in you being subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company will make a Gross-Up Payment (as defined below) to
or on behalf of you as and when any such determination is made; provided you take such action (other than waiving your right to any payments or
benefits) as the Company reasonably requests under the circumstances to mitigate or challenge such tax. Any such determination will be made in accordance with Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code and
any other 

5

 

applicable
law, regulations, rulings or case law. If the Company reasonably requests that you take action to avoid assessment of, or to mitigate or challenge, any such tax or assessment, including
restructuring your right to receive any payments or benefits to which you are entitled (other than under this paragraph), you agree to consider such request (but in no event to waive or limit your
right to any payments or benefits in a manner that would not be neutral to you from a financial point of view), and in connection with any such consideration, the Company will provide such information
and advice as you may reasonably request and will pay for all reasonable expenses incurred in effecting your compliance with such request and any related taxes, fines, penalties, interest and other
assessments. The term "Gross-Up Payment" means an additional amount such that you will, on an after-tax basis (including any
income tax, payroll tax, further excise tax, interest, penalties and other assessments levied on any payment or benefit) receive the full amount of the payments and benefits for which the Company is
liable, as if there was no excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code on any of your payments or benefits. To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to return to the Company the
excess of any Gross-Up Payment made to you over the payment which would have been sufficient to put you in such same after-tax position. Nothing in this Section 8 is
intended to violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and to the extent that any advance or payment obligation hereunder would do so, such obligation will be modified so as to make the advance a nonrefundable
payment to you and the payment obligation null and void. This Section 8 will continue in effect until you agree that all of the Company's obligations to you under this Section 8 have
been satisfied in full or a court of competent jurisdiction makes a final determination that the Company has no further obligations to you under this Section 8, whichever comes first. 

        9.    Release.    Other than if your employment terminates by reason of death or Disability, any payment or benefit
that you are eligible to receive under Sections 7 or 8 will be contingent on your execution of a release substantially in the form attached hereto as  Exhibit A prior to or concurrently with the
provision of such payment or benefit. The payments or benefits you are eligible to receive under
Sections 7 or 8 are in lieu of any termination payments or benefits which you might otherwise be eligible to receive under any standard severance policy maintained by the Company and/or its
Affiliates. 

        10.    Covenants.    In exchange for the remuneration outlined above, in addition to providing service to the Company
as set forth in this Letter Agreement, you agree to the following covenants: 

        (a)   Confidentiality. You acknowledge that during your employment, you will occupy a position of trust and confidence.
Accordingly, you agree that following any termination of your employment, you will keep confidential any trade secrets and confidential or proprietary information of the Company and its affiliates
which are now known to you or which hereafter may become known to you as a result of your
employment or association with the Company and will not at any time directly or indirectly disclose any such information to any person, firm or corporation, or use the same in any way other than in
connection with the business of the Company during, and at all times after, the termination of your employment. For purposes of this Letter Agreement, "trade secrets and
confidential or proprietary information" means information unique to the Company or an affiliate of the Company which has a significant business purpose and is not known or
generally available from sources outside the Company or typical of industry practice, but will not include any of the foregoing (i) that becomes a matter of public record or is published in a
newspaper, magazine or other periodical available to the general public, other than as a result of any act or omission of you or (ii) that is required to be disclosed by any law, regulation or
order of any court or regulatory commission, department or agency; provided that you give prompt notice of such requirement to the Company to enable the
Company to seek an appropriate protective order or confidential treatment. 

        (b)   Non-Competition. You further covenant that during your employment and during the Restricted Period (as
defined below), you will not, for yourself or on behalf of any other person, 

6

 

partnership,
company or corporation, in the United States of America of elsewhere in the world, directly or indirectly, engage in, acquire any financial or beneficial interest in (except as provided
in the next sentence), be employed by, or own, manage, operate or control any entity which is engaged in, any business in competition with any business of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (i) you will not be prohibited from owning less than 1% of any publicly traded corporation, whether or not such corporation is in competition with the
Company, and (ii) you will not be prohibited during the Restricted Period from being employed by or providing services to a company with multiple product-lines and/or service lines where one or
more of its product-lines or service-lines is in competition with the Company so long as you have no direct or indirect contact with the units(s) involved with the competitive products/services. For
purposes of this Letter Agreement, "Restricted Period" means the longer of (i) the 1-year period following termination of your
employment, or (ii) in the event you receive payments pursuant to Sections 7(a) (ii) or 8(a) (ii) in an amount greater than 1 year of your then Base Salary, the period
following termination of your employment equal to the total number of months upon which the payments thereunder are calculated, up to a maximum period of 2 years. 

        (c)   Non-Solicitation of Employees. You further covenant that during your employment and during the Restricted
Period, you will not, directly or indirectly, hire, or cause to be hired by an employer with whom you may ultimately become associated, any employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company at
the time of termination of your employment with the Company. 

        (d)   Employee Invention Agreement. If you have not previously executed the Company's standard form of Employee Invention
Agreement, simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement you will also execute and deliver to the Company the Company's standard form of Employee Invention Agreement. 

        (e)   Equitable Relief and Other Remedies. You acknowledge and agree that the Company's remedies at law for a breach or
threatened breach of any of the provisions of this Section 10 would be inadequate and, in recognition of this fact, you agree that, in the event of such a breach or threatened breach, in
addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond, will be entitled to obtain equitable relief in the form of specific performance, temporary restraining order, a temporary or
permanent injunction or any other equitable remedy which may then be available. 

        (f)    Reformation. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that any restriction in this Section 10 is
excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the law of that jurisdiction, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court
to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that jurisdiction. 

        (g)   Survival of Provisions. Without effect as to the survival of other provisions of this Letter Agreement intended to
survive the termination or expiration of your employment, the obligations contained in this Section 10 will survive the termination or expiration of your employment with the Company and will be
fully enforceable thereafter. 

        11.    Indemnification.    The Company will indemnify and make permitted advances to you to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, if you are made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of your being or having been an officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates or your having served on any other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the Company. In addition, the Company will maintain insurance, at its
expense, to protect you against any such expense, liability or loss to which you would be entitled to indemnification or reimbursement under the foregoing sentence. 

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        12.    Representations.    By signing this Letter Agreement where indicated below, you represent that you are not
subject to any employment agreement or non-competition agreement that could subject the Company or any of its affiliates to any future liability or obligation to any third party as a
result of the execution of this Letter Agreement and your employment by the Company. 

        13.    Miscellaneous Provisions.    

        (a)   This
Letter Agreement may not be amended or terminated without the prior written consent of you and the Company. 

        (b)   This
Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts which together will constitute but one agreement. 

        (c)   This
Letter Agreement will be binding on and inure to the benefit of our respective successors and permitted assigns and, in your case, your heirs and other legal
representatives. If you should die while any amount would still be payable to you hereunder had you continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, will be paid in accordance
with the terms of this Letter Agreement to your devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate. The rights and obligations described in this Letter Agreement may
not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, the Company may assign its rights and obligations described in this Letter Agreement without
your consent upon the transfer of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company (whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise). 

        (d)   Subject
to Section 10, all disputes arising under or related to this Letter Agreement will be settled by arbitration under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect, such arbitration to be held in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area, as the sole and exclusive remedy of either party. Any judgment on the award
rendered by such arbitration may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over such matters. 

        (e)   Except
where prohibited by applicable law, all amounts payable to you under this Letter Agreement will be subject to required tax withholding but will otherwise not be
subject to offset. 

        (f)    All
notices under this Letter Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed effective when delivered in person, by courier service, or 5 days after deposit
thereof in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, for delivery as registered or certified mail, addressed to the respective party at the address set forth below or to such other address as may hereafter be
designated by like notice. Unless otherwise notified as set forth above, notice will be sent to each party as follows: 

You,
to: 

The
address as is maintained in the Company's records 

The
Company, to: 

IHS
Group Inc.

15 Inverness Way East

Englewood, CO 80112

Attention: Senior Vice President, Human Resources 

        (g)   This
Letter Agreement will be governed by and construed and entered in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado without reference to rules relating to conflict
of laws. 

        (h)   This
Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings, both written and oral (including any term sheet) between the Company (or its predecessor or affiliates) and you with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Letter Agreement also
supersedes any inconsistent provisions of any plan or arrangement that would otherwise be applicable to you to the extent such 

8

 

provisions
would limit any rights granted to you hereunder or expand any restrictions imposed on you hereby. 

This
Letter Agreement is intended to be a binding obligation upon both the Company and yourself. If this Letter Agreement correctly reflects your understanding, please sign and return one copy to
Susan Auxer for the Company's records. 

	 	 	IHS GROUP INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  CHARLES PICASSO      
 Name: Charles Picasso

Title: CEO, IHS Group

The
above Letter Agreement correctly reflects our understanding, and I hereby confirm my agreement to the same. 

	Dated as of November 1, 2004	 	 	/s/  H. JOHN OECHSLE      

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EXHIBIT A
  
    FULL AND COMPLETE RELEASE    
    

        I,                        , in consideration for the payment of
the severance described in my Letter Agreement dated                        , 2004, for myself and my heirs,
executors, administrators and assigns, do hereby knowingly and voluntarily release and forever discharge IHS Group Inc. (the "Company") and its
respective predecessors, successors and affiliates and current and former directors, officers and employees from any and all claims, actions and causes of action under those federal, state and local
laws and those applicable laws of any other jurisdiction prohibiting employment discrimination based on age, sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, veteran or marital status, sexual
orientation or any other protected trait or characteristic, or retaliation for engaging in any protected activity, including without limitation, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29
U.S.C. § 621 et seq., as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, P.L. 101-433, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, 9 U.S.C.
§ 206, et seq., Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et
seq., the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, 42 U.S.C. § 1981a, the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.
§ 12101, et seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 791 et seq., the
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2601 and 2611 et seq., whether KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, fixed or contingent, which I
ever had, now have, or may have, or which my heirs, executors, administrators or assigns hereafter can, will or may have from the beginning of time through the date on which I sign this Full and
Complete Release (this "Release"), including without limitation those arising out of or related to my employment or separation from employment with the
Company (collectively the "Released Claims"). 

        I
warrant and represent that I have made no sale, assignment or other transfer, or attempted sale, assignment or other transfer, of any of the Released Claims. 

        I
fully understand and agree that: 

	1.
	this
Release is in exchange for severance payment to which I would otherwise not be entitled;

	2.
	no
rights or claims are released or waived that may arise after the date this Release is signed by me;

	3.
	I
am here advised to consult with an attorney before signing this Release;

	4.
	I
have 21 days from my receipt of this Release within which to consider whether or not to sign it;

	5.
	I
have 7 days following my signature of this Release to revoke the Release; and

	6.
	this
Release will not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period of 7 days has expired. 

        If
I choose to revoke this Release, I must do so by notifying the Company in writing. This written notice of revocation must be mailed by U.S. first class mail or by U.S. certified mail
within the 7 day revocation period and addressed as follows: 

IHS
Group Inc.

15 Inverness Way East

Englewood, CO 80112

Attention: Senior Vice President, Human Resources 

        This
Release is the complete understanding between me and the Company in respect of the subject matter of this Release and supersedes all prior agreements relating to the same subject
matter. I have not relied upon any representations, promises or agreements of any kind except those set forth herein in signing this Release. 

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        In
the event that any provision of this Release should be held to be invalid or unenforceable, each and all of the other provisions of this Release will remain in full force and effect.
If any provision of this Release is found to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be modified as necessary to permit this Release to be upheld and enforced to the maximum extent permitted
by law. 

        This
Release is to be governed and enforced under the laws of the State of Colorado (except to the extent that Colorado conflicts of law rules would call for the application of the law
of another jurisdiction). 

        This
Release inures to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. 

        I
have carefully read this Release, fully understand each of its terms and conditions, and intend to abide by this Release in every respect. As such, I knowingly and voluntarily sign
this Release. 

	

 	

	

 	

Date:	
 	

 
	 	 	 	 	

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Exhibit 10.5

EXHIBIT A FULL AND COMPLETE RELEASEQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10.6    
    

        AGREEMENT dated August 4, 2004 between Robert R. Carpenter, residing at 1174 Scott Avenue, Winnetka,
Illinois 60093 ("Carpenter"), and Information Handling Services Group Inc., a Delaware corporation ("IHS Group"). 

        Carpenter
wishes to resign from employment with IHS Group and its affiliates. This Agreement sets forth the agreements of the parties in connection with Carpenter's resignation to assure
an orderly transition for the business. Accordingly, the parties agree as follows: 

	1)
	Carpenter
hereby resigns from his employment with IHS Group and its parent HAIC, effective November 30, 2005 ("Effective Termination Date").

	2)
	Carpenter
will continue to serve as President and CEO of IHS Group until informed by the Chairman of HAIC that such services are no longer needed, but no later than November 30,
2004. From the date Carpenter ceases to serve as President and CEO of IHS Group until the Effective Termination Date, Carpenter shall be employed as Senior Advisor of IHS Group and Senior Advisor of
HAIC. As such he will report to the Chairman of HAIC and perform duties of an executive nature for IHS Group, HAIC, TBG and/or their affiliates as mutually agreed by the Chairman of HAIC and
Carpenter. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliate" shall mean any company that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with IHS Group.

	3)
	As
of the date Carpenter ceases to be President and CEO of IHS Group, he shall cease to be a director of IHS Group and HAIC. He will also cease to be an officer or director as of such
date of any IHS Group affiliate.

	4)
	Carpenter
shall continue to receive his current base salary through November 30, 2004. Carpenter shall be entitled to annual bonus payment for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 2004 in accordance with the IHS Group Annual Incentive Plan. It is understood that notwithstanding the date Carpenter ceases to be President and CEO of IHS Group and becomes Senior
Advisor of IHS Group and HAIC, Carpenter shall be entitled to the payments provided in this paragraph as if he continued as President and CEO of IHS Group through November 30, 2004.

	5)
	For
the period from December 1, 2004 through the Effective Termination Date Carpenter shall receive salary at the rate of $250,000 per annum. Carpenter shall not participate in
any annual bonus or other incentive plans for such period. Carpenter will continue to participate for the period through the Effective Termination Date in the then current IHS Group health and welfare
related benefit plans, 401-K plan and retirement plan offered to US based employees of IHS Group generally. In addition, you will be vested in the retirement plan with the equivalent of
five years of service. On the Effective Termination Date, Carpenter's resignation from IHS Group and HAIC shall become effective, and Carpenter shall not receive any further salary and shall not
participate in any benefit plans from and after the Effective Termination Date.

	6)
	Carpenter
has received grants of 1,750,000 stock options for the purchase of non-voting common stock of IHS Group Inc. pursuant to Stock Option Agreements dated
March 1, 2003 and March 1, 2004 ("Stock Option Agreements"). The exercise of Carpenter's outstanding stock options granted under the Plan shall be governed by the terms of the Plan,
including the exercise periods specified in Section 2 of the Stock Option Agreements.

	7)
	In
the event prior to the Effective Termination Date, IHS Group or an affiliate puts into effect a new plan that provides for the substitution of options, restricted stock or other
equity related instruments (and may include a cash payment component) for outstanding stock options awarded under the Plan or provides for such substitution under the existing Plan, then Carpenter's
outstanding options will be treated comparably to the options of IHS Group's senior executives in the event a cash payment and/or new options, restricted stock or other 

 

equity
related instruments are substituted for IRS options awarded under the Plan for such other senior executives. In valuing Carpenter's options for the purpose of any such substitution, it is
understood that to the extent the valuation reflects the exercise price, the valuation of Carpenter's options will reflect the exercise price of the options set forth in the Stock Option Agreements.
Carpenter will execute and be bound by any lock-up or similar agreement required of other senior executives of IHS Group and/or its affiliates in connection with an IPO. 

	8)
	IHS
Group will pay Carpenter the sum of $500,000 on December 1, 2004 and the sum of $250,000 on December 1, 2005. Alternatively, IHS Group shall have the option to make a
single payment of $750,000 on December 1, 2004 and omit the $250,000 payment payable on December 1, 2005.

	9)
	To
the fullest extent permitted by the law, IHS Group agrees to indemnify Carpenter against, and to hold Carpenter harmless from, all and any claims, lawsuits, losses, damages,
assessments, penalties, expenses, costs and liabilities of any kind or nature, including without limitation, court costs and attorneys' fees which Carpenter may sustain as a result of, or in
connection with, any suit or other proceeding brought by a third party (including but not limited to governmental or regulatory agencies or bodies) in connection with any act or omission of Carpenter
by reason of the fact that he was employed or served as an officer or director of IHS Group or any affiliate thereof, unless such claim, lawsuit, loss, damage, assessment, penalty, expense, cost or
liability is the result of Carpenter's gross negligence or willful misconduct.

	10)
	In
exchange for the consideration and other promises provided by IHS Group described in this Agreement, Carpenter for himself and his representatives, heirs, and assigns, hereby
releases and discharges IHS Group, and any successor or affiliate of IHS Group and their present and former officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, legal representatives, accountants,
successors, and assigns, (collectively, the "Released Parties") from all claims, demands, and actions of any nature, known or unknown, that he may have against Released Parties, including but not
limited to claims that in any manner relate to, arise out of or involve any aspect of his employment with IHS Group or any of the other Released Parties, and the termination of that employment,
including, but not limited to, any rights or claims under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN"), 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq.; Colorado Anti-Discrimination
Act, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24-34-401, et seq.; Family and Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C.
§ 621 et seq.; Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq.; Vocational Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 701, et seq.; Americans with
Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.; Executive Order 11246; the Civil Rights Act of 1866, as reenacted, 42 U.S.C. § 1981; the National Labor Relations Act, as amended,
29 U.S.C. § 141, et seq.; and any and all other municipal, state, and/or federal statutory, executive order, or constitutional provisions pertaining to an employment relationship. This
release and waiver also specifically includes, but is not limited to, any claims in the nature of tort or contract claims, including specifically but not limited to any claim of wrongful discharge,
breach of contract, promissory estoppel, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, interference with contract, libel, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or other such
claims, including but not limited to those arising out of or involving any aspect of his employment with IHS Group or any of the other Released Parties. This release and waiver shall not apply to any
rights which, by law, may not be waived or to claims for breach of this Agreement, and nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to affect Carpenter's right to test the knowing and voluntary nature
of this Agreement under the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. § 626 (f). Carpenter 

2

 

also
specifically covenants that he will not bring suit or file any grievance or complaint of any nature in relation to any claim or right waived herein. 

	11)
	Carpenter
acknowledges that, during the course of his employment with IHS Group he has learned of information pertaining to the personnel, business, financial, and/or technical
aspects of IHS Group and its affiliates and has received materials containing such information. Most of this information and materials is proprietary, and much of the information and materials is
confidential information concerning such parties' business and employees. Therefore, Carpenter agrees that he will not communicate or disclose any information or materials regarding IHS Group and its
affiliates, their operations, business practices, operating processes, or personnel practices, to any third party without first seeking and obtaining written consent of IHS Group. Carpenter will
return any and all property of IHS Group and its affiliates on the Effective Termination Date.

	12)
	Carpenter
hereby acknowledges his understanding that had he wished to do so, he could have taken up to 21 days or more to consider this Agreement, that he has read this
Agreement and understands its terms and significance, and that he executes such Agreement voluntarily and with full knowledge of its effect, having carefully read and considered all terms of the
Agreement and, if he has chosen to consult with an attorney, having had all terms and their significance fully explained to him by his attorney.

	13)
	Carpenter
hereby certifies his understanding that he may revoke the Agreement, as it applies to him, within seven (7) days following execution of the Agreement and that this
Agreement, as it applies to him, shall not become effective or enforceable until that revocation period has expired. He also understands that, should he revoke the Agreement within the
seven-day period, the Agreement, as it applies to him, would be voided in its entirety.

	14)
	This
Agreement and the Stock Option Agreements constitute the entire agreement and understanding of Carpenter and IHS Group with respect to the matters herein set forth, and all prior
agreements (other than the Stock Option Agreements), negotiations and understandings relating to the subject matter of this Agreement are merged herein and superseded and cancelled by this Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the employment letter dated February 5, 2001 and the Robert R. Carpenter Stock Option Proposal dated December, 2002 are terminated effective
the date hereof and neither party shall have any rights or obligations under such agreements. This Agreement may not be amended or modified and its terms and conditions may not be waived except by a
written instrument signed by Carpenter and IHS Group.

	15)
	This
Agreement shall be binding on and enure to the benefit of IHS Group and its successors and assigns and Carpenter and his heirs, executors and legal representatives. This
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado. 

3

 

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Carpenter and IHS Group have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. 

	

 	
 	

/s/  ROBERT R. CARPENTER      
 Robert R. Carpenter
	    	 	 	 
	    	 	 	 
	    	 	 	 
	

 	
 	

Information Handling Services Group Inc.
	    	 	 	 
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  JERRE STEAD      

	

 	
 	

Title:	

Chairman of HAIC

4

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.6

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