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MSCI Inc. - Quarter Report: 2020 March (Form 10-Q)

 

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 001-33812

 

MSCI INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

13-4038723

(State or other jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

 

7 World Trade Center

250 Greenwich Street, 49th Floor

New York, New York

 

10007

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 804-3900

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

MSCI

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes      No  

As of April 21, 2020, there were 83,595,699 shares of common stock outstanding, par value $0.01.

 

 

 


 

 

 

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Part I – Financial Information

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

5

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

23

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

39

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part II – Other Information

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

41

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

41

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

41

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

42

Item 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

42

Item 5.

 

Other Information

 

42

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

43

 

 

2


 

 

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

MSCI Inc.’s website is www.msci.com. You can access MSCI Inc.’s Investor Relations homepage at http://ir.msci.com. MSCI Inc. makes available free of charge, on or through its Investor Relations homepage, its proxy statements, Annual Reports on Form 10‑K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. MSCI Inc. also makes available, through its Investor Relations homepage, via a link to the SEC’s website, statements of beneficial ownership of MSCI Inc.’s equity securities filed by its directors, officers, 5% or greater shareholders and others under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

You can access information about MSCI Inc.’s corporate governance at http://ir.msci.com/corporate-governance.cfm, including copies of the following:

 

Charters for MSCI Inc.’s Audit Committee, Compensation & Talent Management Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Strategy and Finance Committee;

 

Corporate Governance Policies;

 

Procedures for Submission of Ethical or Accounting Related Complaints; and

 

Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.

MSCI Inc.’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applies to all directors, officers and employees, including its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer. MSCI Inc. will post any amendments to the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or the New York Stock Exchange LLC on its website. You can request a copy of these documents, excluding exhibits, at no cost, by contacting Investor Relations, MSCI Inc., 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10007; (212) 804-5306. The information on MSCI Inc.’s website is not incorporated by reference into this report or any other report filed or furnished by us with the SEC.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond MSCI’s control and that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements can be found in the 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 18, 2020 and in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with the SEC. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if MSCI’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what MSCI projected. Any forward-looking statement in this report reflects MSCI’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to MSCI’s operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. MSCI assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

3


 

 

 

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA DISCLOSURE

MSCI Inc. uses its website, including its quarterly updates, blog, podcasts and social media channels, including its corporate Twitter account (@MSCI_Inc) as channels of distribution of company information. The information MSCI Inc. posts through these channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these channels, in addition to following MSCI Inc.’s press releases, quarterly SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about MSCI Inc. when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Email Alerts Subscription” section of its Investor Relations homepage at http://ir.msci.com/email-alerts. The contents of MSCI Inc.’s website, including its quarterly updates, blog, podcasts and social media channels are not, however, incorporated by reference into this report or any other report filed or furnished by us with the SEC.

4


 

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(in thousands, except per share and share data)

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,066,856

 

 

$

1,506,567

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances

 

 

481,990

 

 

 

499,268

 

Prepaid income taxes

 

 

27,836

 

 

 

31,590

 

Prepaid and other assets

 

 

43,091

 

 

 

44,352

 

Total current assets

 

 

1,619,773

 

 

 

2,081,777

 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

 

 

86,278

 

 

 

90,708

 

Right of use assets

 

 

163,704

 

 

 

166,406

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,559,425

 

 

 

1,562,868

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

253,398

 

 

 

261,487

 

Equity method investment

 

 

190,822

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

19,938

 

 

 

20,911

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

18,461

 

 

 

20,282

 

Total assets

 

$

3,911,799

 

 

$

4,204,439

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

5,864

 

 

$

6,498

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

16,486

 

 

 

14,210

 

Accrued compensation and related benefits

 

 

62,661

 

 

 

166,273

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

138,796

 

 

 

139,149

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

574,472

 

 

 

574,656

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

798,279

 

 

 

900,786

 

Long-term debt

 

 

3,170,061

 

 

 

3,071,926

 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

161,550

 

 

 

164,144

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

58,393

 

 

 

66,639

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

77,847

 

 

 

77,658

 

Total liabilities

 

 

4,266,130

 

 

 

4,281,153

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity (deficit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock (par value $0.01, 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock (par value $0.01; 750,000,000 common shares authorized; 132,797,535

   and 132,419,412 common shares issued and 83,709,132 and 84,794,930 common

   shares outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

1,328

 

 

 

1,324

 

Treasury shares, at cost (49,088,403 and 47,624,482 common shares held at March 31, 2020

   and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

(3,938,714

)

 

 

(3,565,784

)

Additional paid in capital

 

 

1,366,442

 

 

 

1,351,031

 

Retained earnings

 

 

2,288,817

 

 

 

2,199,294

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(72,204

)

 

 

(62,579

)

Total shareholders' equity (deficit)

 

 

(354,331

)

 

 

(76,714

)

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity (deficit)

 

$

3,911,799

 

 

$

4,204,439

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

5


 

 

 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

Operating revenues

 

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

74,609

 

 

 

82,346

 

 

Selling and marketing

 

 

55,549

 

 

 

56,048

 

 

Research and development

 

 

26,562

 

 

 

23,172

 

 

General and administrative

 

 

30,833

 

 

 

27,497

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and

   leasehold improvements

 

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

208,896

 

 

 

208,706

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

207,884

 

 

 

162,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

(3,483

)

 

 

(4,086

)

 

Interest expense

 

 

40,231

 

 

 

35,915

 

 

Other expense (income)

 

 

8,287

 

 

 

2,554

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expense (income), net

 

 

45,035

 

 

 

34,383

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

 

162,849

 

 

 

128,292

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

14,724

 

 

 

(49,900

)

 

Net income

 

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per basic common share

 

$

1.75

 

 

$

2.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per diluted common share

 

$

1.73

 

 

$

2.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing

   earnings per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

84,870

 

 

 

84,253

 

 

Diluted

 

 

85,548

 

 

 

85,649

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6


 

 

 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

Net income

 

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

(12,363

)

 

 

1,533

 

 

Income tax effect

 

 

2,468

 

 

 

(347

)

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net

 

 

(9,895

)

 

 

1,186

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other post-retirement adjustments

 

 

306

 

 

 

20

 

 

Income tax effect

 

 

(36

)

 

 

(9

)

 

Pension and other post-retirement adjustments, net

 

 

270

 

 

 

11

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

 

 

(9,625

)

 

 

1,197

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

138,500

 

 

$

179,389

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7


 

 

 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common

 

 

Treasury

 

 

Paid in

 

 

Retained

 

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock

 

 

Stock

 

 

Capital

 

 

Earnings

 

 

Income (Loss)

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

$

1,324

 

 

$

(3,565,784

)

 

$

1,351,031

 

 

$

2,199,294

 

 

$

(62,579

)

 

$

(76,714

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,125

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

148,125

 

Cumulative-effect adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

631

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

631

 

Dividends declared ($0.68 per common share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(59,233

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(59,233

)

Dividends paid in shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

78

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

78

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9,625

)

 

 

(9,625

)

Common stock issued

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Shares withheld for tax withholding

 

 

 

 

 

 

(47,195

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(47,195

)

Compensation payable in common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,333

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,333

 

Common stock repurchased and held in treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(325,699

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(325,699

)

Common stock issued to directors and held in treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

$

1,328

 

 

$

(3,938,714

)

 

$

1,366,442

 

 

$

2,288,817

 

 

$

(72,204

)

 

$

(354,331

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2018

 

$

1,300

 

 

$

(3,272,774

)

 

$

1,306,428

 

 

$

1,856,951

 

 

$

(58,399

)

 

$

(166,494

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

178,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

178,192

 

Dividends declared ($0.58 per common share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(55,339

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(55,339

)

Dividends paid in shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

93

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,197

 

 

 

1,197

 

Common stock issued

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises

 

 

 

 

 

 

(182,385

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(182,385

)

Compensation payable in common stock and options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,590

 

Common stock repurchased and held in treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(102,081

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(102,081

)

Common stock issued to directors and held in treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30

)

Exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

726

 

Balance at March 31, 2019

 

$

1,323

 

 

$

(3,557,270

)

 

$

1,316,837

 

 

$

1,979,804

 

 

$

(57,202

)

 

$

(316,508

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

8


 

 

 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

15,163

 

 

 

9,541

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

Amortization of right of use assets

 

 

5,989

 

 

 

5,583

 

Amortization of debt origination fees

 

 

1,089

 

 

 

986

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

9,966

 

 

 

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

(5,165

)

 

 

(8,397

)

Other non-cash adjustments

 

 

337

 

 

 

(200

)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

15,926

 

 

 

46,805

 

Prepaid income taxes

 

 

3,330

 

 

 

(53,613

)

Prepaid and other assets

 

 

296

 

 

 

406

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(1,536

)

 

 

(1,793

)

Accrued compensation and related benefits

 

 

(98,658

)

 

 

(81,170

)

Income taxes payable

 

 

2,229

 

 

 

(5,843

)

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

(3,563

)

 

 

(7,107

)

Deferred revenue

 

 

2,252

 

 

 

(13,352

)

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

(6,078

)

 

 

(5,422

)

Other

 

 

1,725

 

 

 

3,616

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

112,770

 

 

 

87,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of equity method investment

 

 

(190,822

)

 

 

 

Capitalized software development costs

 

 

(7,203

)

 

 

(4,990

)

Capital expenditures

 

 

(3,613

)

 

 

(3,156

)

Proceeds from the sale of capital equipment

 

 

 

 

 

10

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(201,638

)

 

 

(8,136

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings

 

 

405,000

 

 

 

 

Repayment of long-term debt

 

 

(307,875

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

 

 

 

726

 

Repurchase of common stock held in treasury

 

 

(372,894

)

 

 

(284,466

)

Payment of dividends

 

 

(59,378

)

 

 

(57,895

)

Payment of debt issuance costs in connection with debt

 

 

(4,934

)

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(340,081

)

 

 

(341,635

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

 

(10,762

)

 

 

501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash

 

 

(439,711

)

 

 

(261,395

)

Cash and cash equivalent, beginning of period

 

 

1,506,567

 

 

 

904,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalent, end of period

 

$

1,066,856

 

 

$

642,781

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

40,495

 

 

$

35,148

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

$

5,684

 

 

$

17,312

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements accrued, but not yet paid

 

$

4,987

 

 

$

2,848

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared, but not yet paid

 

$

616

 

 

$

237

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

9


 

 

 

MSCI INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

MSCI Inc., together with its wholly owned subsidiaries (the “Company” or “MSCI”) provides critical decision support tools and services that bring greater transparency to the global financial markets. MSCI’s tools and services include indexes; portfolio construction tools and risk-management services; environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) research and ratings; and real estate benchmarks, return analytics services and market insights; much of which can be accessed by clients through multiple channels and platforms.

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates

These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MSCI and its wholly owned subsidiaries and include all adjustments of a normal, recurring nature necessary to state fairly the financial condition as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the results of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The unaudited condensed consolidated statement of financial condition and related financial statement information as of December 31, 2019 have been derived from the 2019 audited consolidated financial statements but do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in MSCI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.  The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.    

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. These accounting principles require the Company to make certain estimates and judgments that can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. Significant estimates and assumptions made by management include the deferral and recognition of revenue, research and development and software capitalization, assessment of impairment of long-lived assets, accrued compensation, income taxes, incremental borrowing rates and other matters that affect the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company believes that estimates used in the preparation of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are reasonable; however, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.  

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

Concentrations

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, BlackRock, Inc. accounted for 11.3% and 11.6% of the Company’s consolidated operating revenues, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, BlackRock, Inc. accounted for 18.5% and 19.3% of the Index segment operating revenues, respectively. No single customer represented 10.0% or more of operating revenues within the Analytics and All Other segments for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Allowance for Credit Losses on Accounts Receivable

Following the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” effective beginning January 1, 2020, the Company records an allowance on customer accounts at the time of billing based on the estimated amount of the billing that will not be collected.

10


 

 

 

Changes in the allowance for credit losses on doubtful accounts receivable from December 31, 2018 to March 31, 2020 were as follows:

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

 

$

1,027

 

(Reduction) addition to credit loss expense

 

 

1,024

 

Write-offs, net of recoveries

 

 

(336

)

Balance as of December 31, 2019

 

$

1,715

 

(Reduction) addition to credit loss expense

 

 

333

 

Adjustments and write-offs, net of recoveries

 

 

(844

)

Balance as of March 31, 2020

 

$

1,204

 

 

 

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATES

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” or ASU 2016-13. The amendments in ASU 2016-13 introduce an approach based on expected losses to estimated credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, modify the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and provide for a simplified accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since their origination.

 

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses,” or ASU 2018-19, Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses,” or ASU 2019-04, Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-05, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief,” or ASU 2019-05, Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-10, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Effective Dates,” or ASU 2019-10 and Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses,” or ASU 2019-11. The amendments in these ASUs provide clarifications to ASU 2016-13.

 

The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 and the related clarifications effective January 1, 2020. The adoption did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” or ASU 2017-04. The amendments in ASU 2017-04 simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, an entity performed procedures to determine the fair value at the impairment testing date of its assets and liabilities. When applying the amendments in ASU 2017-04, an entity performs its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, but not more than the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 effective January 1, 2020.

 

3. REVENUE RECOGNITION

MSCI’s revenues are characterized by product type, which broadly reflects the nature of how they are recognized. The Company’s revenue types are recurring subscription, asset-based fees and non-recurring revenues. The Company also reports revenues by segment.

11


 

 

 

The tables that follow present the disaggregated revenues for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2020

 

 

 

Segments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

 

Analytics

 

 

All Other

 

 

Total

 

Revenue Types

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

$

139,840

 

 

$

124,065

 

 

$

40,520

 

 

$

304,425

 

Asset-based fees

 

 

100,196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100,196

 

Non-recurring

 

 

9,220

 

 

 

1,443

 

 

 

1,496

 

 

 

12,159

 

Total

 

$

249,256

 

 

$

125,508

 

 

$

42,016

 

 

$

416,780

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2019

 

 

 

Segments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

 

Analytics

 

 

All Other

 

 

Total

 

Revenue Types

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

$

127,674

 

 

$

120,110

 

 

$

34,580

 

 

$

282,364

 

Asset-based fees

 

 

81,808

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

81,808

 

Non-recurring

 

 

5,291

 

 

 

1,325

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

7,209

 

Total

 

$

214,773

 

 

$

121,435

 

 

$

35,173

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

 

The tables that follow present the change in accounts receivable and in deferred revenue between the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

Deferred revenue

 

Opening (12/31/2019)

 

$

499,268

 

 

$

574,656

 

Closing (03/31/2020)

 

 

481,990

 

 

 

574,472

 

Increase/(decrease)

 

$

(17,278

)

 

$

(184

)

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

Deferred revenue

 

Opening (12/31/2018)

 

$

473,433

 

 

$

537,977

 

Closing (03/31/2019)

 

 

427,099

 

 

 

524,988

 

Increase/(decrease)

 

$

(46,334

)

 

$

(12,989

)

 

 

The amount of revenue recognized in the periods that was included in the opening current deferred revenue, which reflects contract liability amounts, were $212.4 million and $168.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The difference between the opening and closing balances of the Company’s deferred revenue was primarily driven by an increase in the amortization of deferred revenue to operating revenues, partially offset by an increase in billings. MSCI had an insignificant long-term deferred revenue balance as of March 31, 2020, reflected as a part of “Other non-current liabilities” on its Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

For contracts that have a duration of one year or less, the Company has not disclosed either the remaining performance obligation as of the end of the reporting period or when the Company expects to recognize the revenue. The remaining performance obligations for contracts that have a duration of greater than one year and the periods in which they are expected to be recognized are as follows:

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

First 12-month period

 

$

357,086

 

Second 12-month period

 

 

163,329

 

Third 12-month period

 

 

65,213

 

Periods thereafter

 

 

13,392

 

Total

 

$

599,020

 

 

12


 

 

 

4. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Common shares outstanding include common stock and vested restricted stock unit awards where recipients have satisfied either the explicit vesting terms or retirement-eligible requirements. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive securities.

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted EPS:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

84,870

 

 

 

84,253

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options and restricted stock units

 

 

678

 

 

 

1,396

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

85,548

 

 

 

85,649

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per basic common share

 

$

1.75

 

 

$

2.11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per diluted common share

 

$

1.73

 

 

$

2.08

 

 

 

 

5. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, NET

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net consisted of the following as of the specified dates:

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Computer & related equipment

 

$

188,788

 

 

$

185,794

 

Furniture & fixtures

 

 

13,120

 

 

 

12,478

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

54,826

 

 

 

52,339

 

Work-in-process

 

 

3,779

 

 

 

8,667

 

Subtotal

 

 

260,513

 

 

 

259,278

 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(174,235

)

 

 

(168,570

)

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

 

$

86,278

 

 

$

90,708

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense of property, equipment and leasehold improvements was $7.6 million and $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

 

6. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

Goodwill

The following table presents goodwill by reportable segment:

 

(in thousands)

 

Index

 

 

Analytics

 

 

All Other

 

 

Total

 

Goodwill at December 31, 2019

 

$

1,204,694

 

 

$

290,976

 

 

$

67,198

 

 

$

1,562,868

 

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

(2,138

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,305

)

 

 

(3,443

)

Goodwill at March 31, 2020

 

$

1,202,556

 

 

$

290,976

 

 

$

65,893

 

 

$

1,559,425

 

 

13


 

 

 

Intangible Assets, Net

Amortization expense related to intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $13.8 million and $11.8 million, respectively. The amortization expense of acquired intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $8.8 million and $8.7 million, respectively. The amortization expense of internally developed capitalized software for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was $5.0 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

The gross carrying and accumulated amortization amounts related to the Company’s intangible assets were as follows: 

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Gross intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

356,700

 

 

$

356,700

 

Trademarks/trade names

 

 

207,300

 

 

 

207,300

 

Technology/software

 

 

268,978

 

 

 

263,719

 

Proprietary data

 

 

28,627

 

 

 

28,627

 

Subtotal

 

 

861,605

 

 

 

856,346

 

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

(10,269

)

 

 

(7,615

)

Total gross intangible assets

 

$

851,336

 

 

$

848,731

 

Accumulated amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

(237,115

)

 

$

(231,665

)

Trademarks/trade names

 

 

(136,051

)

 

 

(133,305

)

Technology/software

 

 

(213,156

)

 

 

(209,878

)

Proprietary data

 

 

(14,405

)

 

 

(13,963

)

Subtotal

 

 

(600,727

)

 

 

(588,811

)

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

2,789

 

 

 

1,567

 

Total accumulated amortization

 

$

(597,938

)

 

$

(587,244

)

Net intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

119,585

 

 

$

125,035

 

Trademarks/trade names

 

 

71,249

 

 

 

73,995

 

Technology/software

 

 

55,822

 

 

 

53,841

 

Proprietary data

 

 

14,222

 

 

 

14,664

 

Subtotal

 

 

260,878

 

 

 

267,535

 

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

(7,480

)

 

 

(6,048

)

Total net intangible assets

 

$

253,398

 

 

$

261,487

 

 

The following table presents the estimated amortization expense for the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2020 and succeeding years:

 

Years Ending December 31,

 

Amortization

Expense

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Remainder of 2020

 

$

42,035

 

2021

 

 

52,471

 

2022

 

 

45,186

 

2023

 

 

35,300

 

2024

 

 

33,437

 

Thereafter

 

 

44,969

 

Total

 

$

253,398

 

 

 

14


 

 

 

7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal matters. From time to time, the Company is party to various litigation matters incidental to the conduct of its business. The Company is not presently party to any legal proceedings the resolution of which the Company believes would have a material effect on its business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows.

Senior Unsecured Notes. The Company had an aggregate of $3,200.0 million in senior unsecured notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) outstanding at March 31, 2020, consisting of five discrete private offerings presented in the table below:

 

 

 

 

 

Principal

Amount

Outstanding

at

 

 

Carrying

Value at

 

 

Carrying

Value at

 

 

Fair

Value at

 

 

Fair

Value at

 

 

 

Maturity Date

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.25% senior unsecured notes due 2024

 

November 15, 2024

 

$

-

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

297,835

 

 

$

-

 

 

$

309,225

 

5.75% senior unsecured notes due 2025

 

August 15, 2025

 

 

800,000

 

 

 

794,325

 

 

 

794,063

 

 

 

836,568

 

 

 

840,872

 

4.75% senior unsecured notes due 2026

 

August 1, 2026

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

495,754

 

 

 

495,587

 

 

 

498,050

 

 

 

525,800

 

5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2027

 

May 15, 2027

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

495,331

 

 

 

495,168

 

 

 

516,605

 

 

 

541,300

 

4.00% senior unsecured notes due 2029

 

November 15, 2029

 

 

1,000,000

 

 

 

989,546

 

 

 

989,273

 

 

 

994,180

 

 

 

1,018,820

 

3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2030

 

September 1, 2030

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

395,105

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

382,952

 

 

 

-

 

Total long-term debt

 

 

 

$

3,200,000

 

 

$

3,170,061

 

 

$

3,071,926

 

 

$

3,228,355

 

 

$

3,236,017

 

 

The fair market value of the Company’s debt obligations is determined in accordance with accounting standards related to the determination of fair value and represents Level 2 valuations, which are based on one or more quoted prices in markets that are not considered to be active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly. The Company utilizes the market approach and obtains security pricing from a vendor who uses broker quotes and third-party pricing services to determine fair values.

The $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior unsecured notes due 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”) are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on August 15, 2025. At any time prior to August 15, 2020, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after August 15, 2020, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes.

The $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.75% senior unsecured notes due 2026 (the “2026 Senior Notes”) are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on August 1, 2026. At any time prior to August 1, 2021, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2026 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2026 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after August 1, 2021, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2026 Senior Notes.  

The $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2027 (the “2027 Senior Notes”) are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on May 15, 2027. At any time prior to May 15, 2022, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2027 Senior Notes upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2027 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after May 15, 2022, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2027 Senior Notes. At any time prior to May 15, 2021, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Senior Notes, including any permitted additional notes, at a redemption price equal to 105.375% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

 

15


 

 

 

The $1,000.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2029 (the “2029 Senior Notes”) are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on November 15, 2029. At any time prior to November 15, 2024, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2029 Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2029 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after November 15, 2024, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2029 Senior Notes. At any time prior to November 15, 2022, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Senior Notes, including any permitted additional notes, at a redemption price equal to 104.000% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

 

On March 4, 2020, the Company issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2030 (the “2030 Senior Notes”) in a private offering that was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the 2030 Senior Notes to redeem the $300.0 million aggregate principal amount that remained outstanding on its 5.250% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (the “2024 Senior Notes”). The early redemption of the 2024 Senior Notes resulted in a $10.0 million loss on debt extinguishment recorded in other expense (income), which included approximately $7.9 million of call premium paid in accordance with the redemption prices set forth in the indenture and the write-off of approximately $2.1 million unamortized costs associated with the $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Senior Notes.

 

The 2030 Senior Notes are scheduled to mature and be paid in full on September 1, 2030. At any time prior to March 1, 2025, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2030 Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus (ii) a make-whole premium as of the date of redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon, to the date of redemption. In addition, the Company may redeem all or part of the 2030 Senior Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on or after March 1, 2025, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the 2030 Senior Notes. At any time prior to March 1, 2023, the Company may use the proceeds of certain equity offerings to redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2030 Senior Notes, including any permitted additional notes, at a redemption price equal to 103.625% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

Interest payments attributable to the 2027 Senior Notes and 2029 Senior Notes are due on May 15th and November 15th of each year. Interest payments attributable to the 2025 Senior Notes are due on February 15th and August 15th of each year. Interest payments attributable to the 2026 Senior Notes are due on February 1st and August 1st of each year. Interest payments attributable to the 2030 Senior Notes are due on March 1st and September 1st of each year, with the first payment occurring on September 1, 2020.

 

Revolver. On November 20, 2014, the Company entered into a $200.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit agreement (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) with a syndicate of banks. The Revolving Credit Agreement had an initial term of five years with an option to extend for two additional one-year terms. On August 4, 2016, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 (the “First Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit Agreement. The First Amendment, among other things, (i) increased aggregate commitments available to be borrowed to $220.0 million, (ii) increased the maximum consolidated leverage ratio and (iii) extended the initial term to August 2021 with an option to extend for an additional one-year term. On May 15, 2018, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “Second Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Second Amendment, among other things, (i) increased aggregate commitments available to be borrowed to $250.0 million, (ii) extended the term to May 2023 with an option to extend for an additional one-year term and (iii) decreased the applicable rate and applicable fee rate for loans and commitments. On November 15, 2019, the Company entered into Amendment No. 3 (the “Third Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Third Amendment, among other things, (i) increased aggregate commitments available to be borrowed to $400.0 million, (ii) extended the term to November 2024 with an option to extend for an additional one-year term, (iii) decreased the applicable rate and applicable fee rate for loans and commitments and (iv) amended certain restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s financial flexibility. As of March 31, 2020, $5.0 million was drawn and outstanding under the Third Amendment, which bears interest of LIBOR plus 1.50%, or a rate of 2.25%. The $5.0 million plus accrued interest was paid on April 20, 2020.

In connection with the closings of the Senior Notes offerings and entry into the Revolving Credit Agreement and the First, Second and Third Amendments, the Company paid certain financing fees which, together with the existing fees related to prior credit facilities are being amortized over their related lives. At March 31, 2020, $32.0 million of the deferred financing fees remain unamortized, $0.5 million of which is included in “Prepaid and other assets,” $1.6 million of which is included in “Other non-current assets” and $29.9 million of which is grouped and presented as part of “Long-term debt” on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

 

 

16


 

 

 

8. LEASES

The Company recognized a total of $9.0 million and $7.3 million of operating lease expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The amounts associated with variable lease costs, short-term lease costs and sublease income were not material for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Future minimum commitments for the Company’s operating leases in place as of March 31, 2020, the interest and other relevant line items in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition are as follows:

 

Maturity of Lease Liabilities

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

Leases

 

Remainder of 2020

 

$

20,352

 

2021

 

 

28,000

 

2022

 

 

24,497

 

2023

 

 

23,479

 

2024

 

 

18,254

 

Thereafter

 

 

102,102

 

Total lease payments

 

$

216,684

 

Less: Interest

 

 

(33,313

)

Present value of lease liabilities

 

$

183,371

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

$

21,821

 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

$

161,550

 

 

Lease term and discount rate for the Company’s operating leases in place as of March 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Lease Term and Discount Rate

 

2020

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)

 

 

12.92

 

Weighted-average discount rate

 

 

3.41

%

 

Other information for the Company’s operating leases in place for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Other Information

 

March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2020

 

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 

$

7,690

 

Leased assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease

   liabilities

 

$

7,663

 

 

 

9. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Return of capital.

On October 26, 2016, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $750.0 million worth of shares of the Company’s common stock (together with the amount then remaining under a previously existing share repurchase program, the “2016 Repurchase Program”).

On May 1, 2018, the Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $1,000.0 million worth of shares of the Company’s common stock in addition to the $523.1 million of authorization then remaining under the 2016 Repurchase Program (the “2018 Repurchase Program”).

On October 29, 2019, the Board of Directors authorized an additional stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $750.0 million worth of shares of MSCI’s common stock in addition to the $706.1 million of authorization remaining under the 2018 Repurchase Program (the “2019 Repurchase Program”) for a total of $1,456.1 million of stock repurchase authorization. Share repurchases made pursuant to the 2019 Repurchase Program may take place in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time to time based on market and other conditions. This authorization may be modified, suspended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time without prior notice. As of March 31, 2020, there was $1,130.4 million of available authorization remaining under the 2019 Repurchase Program.

17


 

 

 

The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of the Company’s common stock made on the open market:

 

Three Months Ended

 

Average

Price

Paid Per

Share

 

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Repurchased

 

 

Dollar

Value of

Shares

Repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

March 31, 2020

 

$

248.65

 

 

 

1,310

 

 

$

325,698

 

March 31, 2019

 

$

147.97

 

 

 

690

 

 

$

102,081

 

 

The following table presents dividends declared per common share as well as total amounts declared, distributed and deferred for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Dividends

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Per Share

 

 

Declared

 

 

Distributed

 

 

(Released)/Deferred

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 

$

0.68

 

 

$

59,233

 

 

$

59,455

 

 

$

(222

)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

 

$

0.58

 

 

$

55,339

 

 

$

57,988

 

 

$

(2,649

)

 

Common Stock.

The following table presents activity related to shares of common stock issued and repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2020:

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Treasury

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

Issued

 

 

Stock

 

 

Outstanding

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

 

132,419,412

 

 

 

(47,624,482

)

 

 

84,794,930

 

Dividend payable/paid

 

 

259

 

 

 

(120

)

 

 

139

 

Common stock issued

 

 

377,843

 

 

 

 

 

 

377,843

 

Shares withheld for tax withholding

 

 

 

 

 

(153,923

)

 

 

(153,923

)

Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs

 

 

 

 

 

(1,309,878

)

 

 

(1,309,878

)

Shares issued to directors

 

 

21

 

 

 

 

 

 

21

 

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

 

132,797,535

 

 

 

(49,088,403

)

 

 

83,709,132

 

 

 

10. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s provision for income taxes was an expense of $14.7 million and a benefit of $49.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts reflect effective tax rates of 9.0% and negative 38.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The effective tax rate of 9.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period which was impacted by certain favorable discrete items totaling $22.4 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, these discrete items primarily related to $18.9 million of excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation vested during the period and $2.6 million related to the tax impact of loss on debt extinguishment recognized during the period. Also included in the discrete items is a $0.8 million benefit related to the revaluation of the cost of deemed repatriation of foreign earnings.

The effective tax rate of negative 38.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period and was impacted by certain discrete items totaling $77.8 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, these discrete items primarily related to $66.6 million of excess tax benefits recognized upon vesting during the period of certain multi-year restricted stock units that were subject to the achievement of multi-year total shareholder return targets (performance targets subject to market conditions) granted in 2016 (“2016 Multi-Year PSUs”) and $9.8 million of excess tax benefits recognized on other share-based compensation vested during the period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, a number of countries enacted economic stimulus laws including the CARES Act in the U.S. The company has evaluated the laws that were passed during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and does not believe the laws have a material impact on the Company’s effective tax rate or cash flows. A number of the laws, however, have enabled the Company to defer certain eligible tax payments that would have fallen due in later quarters.

18


 

 

 

The Company is under examination by the IRS and other tax authorities in certain jurisdictions, including foreign jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland and India, and states in which the Company has significant operations, such as New York. The tax years currently under examination vary by jurisdiction but include years ranging from 2006 through 2019. As a result of having previously been a member of the Morgan Stanley consolidated group, the Company may have future settlements with Morgan Stanley related to the ultimate disposition of their New York State and New York City examination relating to the tax years 2007 and 2008 and their IRS examination relating to the tax years 2006 through 2008. The Company does not believe it has any material exposure to the New York State and New York City examinations. Additionally, the Company believes it has adequate reserves for any tax issues that may arise out of the IRS examination relating to the tax years 2006 through 2008 and therefore does not believe any related settlement with Morgan Stanley will have a material impact.

The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of additional assessments in each of the taxing jurisdictions in which it files income tax returns. The Company has established unrecognized tax benefits that the Company believes are adequate in relation to the potential for additional assessments. Once established, the Company adjusts unrecognized tax benefits only when more information is available or when an event occurs necessitating a change. As part of the Company’s periodic review of unrecognized tax benefits and based on new information regarding the status of federal and state examinations, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits were remeasured. Based on the current status of income tax audits, the total amount of unrecognized benefits may decrease by approximately $11.2 million in the next twelve months as a result of the resolution of tax examinations.

 

 

11. SEGMENT INFORMATION

ASC Subtopic 280-10, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker, or CODM, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. MSCI’s Chief Executive Officer and its President and Chief Operating Officer, who are together considered to be its CODM, review financial information presented on an operating segment basis for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial performance.

The CODM measures and evaluates reportable segments based on segment operating revenues as well as Adjusted EBITDA and other measures. The Company excludes the following items from segment Adjusted EBITDA: provision for income taxes, other expense (income), net, depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, amortization of intangible assets and, at times, certain other transactions or adjustments, including the impact related to the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs, that the CODM does not consider for the purposes of making decisions to allocate resources among segments or to assess segment performance. Although these amounts are excluded from segment Adjusted EBITDA, they are included in reported consolidated net income and are included in the reconciliation that follows.   

The Company’s computation of segment Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies because all companies do not calculate segment Adjusted EBITDA in the same fashion.

Operating revenues and expenses directly associated with each segment are included in determining its operating results. Other expenses that are not directly attributable to a particular segment are based upon allocation methodologies, including time estimates, revenue, headcount, sales targets, data center consumption and other relevant usage measures. Due to the integrated structure of MSCI’s business, certain costs incurred by one segment may benefit other segments. A segment may use the content and data produced by another segment without incurring an arm’s-length intersegment charge.

The CODM does not review any information regarding total assets on an operating segment basis. Operating segments do not record intersegment revenues, and, accordingly, there is none to be reported. The accounting policies for segment reporting are the same as for MSCI as a whole.

The Company has five operating segments: Index, Analytics, ESG, Real Estate and The Burgiss Group, LLC (“Burgiss”).

The Index operating segment is a provider of primarily equity indexes. The indexes are used in many areas of the investment process, including index-linked product creation (e.g., ETFs and futures and options), performance benchmarking, portfolio construction and rebalancing, broker-dealer structured products and asset allocation.

The Analytics operating segment offers risk management, performance attribution and portfolio management content, applications and services that provide clients with an integrated view of risk and return and an analysis of market, credit, liquidity and counterparty risk across all major asset classes, spanning short-, medium- and long-term time horizons. Clients access our Analytics content through MSCI’s own proprietary applications and application programming interfaces, third-party applications or directly through their own platforms. Additionally, the Analytics operating segment also provides various managed services to help clients operate more efficiently, including consolidation of client portfolio data from various sources, review and reconciliation of input data and results, and customized reporting.

19


 

 

 

The ESG operating segment offers products and services that help institutional investors understand how ESG considerations can impact the long-term risk and return of their portfolio and individual security-level investments. In addition, MSCI ESG Research data and ratings are used in the construction of equity and fixed income indexes to help institutional investors more effectively benchmark ESG investment performance, issue index-based investment products, as well as manage, measure and report on ESG mandates.

The Real Estate operating segment offers research, reporting, market data and benchmarking offerings that provide real estate performance analysis for funds, investors and managers. Real Estate performance and risk analytics range from enterprise-wide to property-specific analysis. The Real Estate operating segment also provides business intelligence to real estate owners, managers, developers and brokers worldwide.

The Burgiss operating segment represents the Company’s equity method investment in Burgiss, a global provider of investment decision support tools for private capital. See Note 12, “Equity Method Investments,” for further information.

The operating segments of ESG, Real Estate and Burgiss do not individually meet the segment reporting thresholds and have been combined and presented as part of All Other for disclosure purposes. Burgiss is an equity-method investment, therefore, the All Other segment does not include the Company’s proportionate share of operating revenues and Adjusted EBITDA related to Burgiss.  The Company’s proportionate share of Burgiss’s equity earnings are not a component of Adjusted EBITDA as they are reported as a component of other (expense) income, net.

The following table presents operating revenue by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

$

249,256

 

 

$

214,773

 

Analytics

 

 

125,508

 

 

 

121,435

 

All Other

 

 

42,016

 

 

 

35,173

 

Total

 

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

The following table presents segment profitability and a reconciliation to net income for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Index Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

183,586

 

 

$

152,211

 

Analytics Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

36,318

 

 

 

36,398

 

All Other Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

9,323

 

 

 

9,098

 

Total operating segment profitability

 

 

229,227

 

 

 

197,707

 

2016 Multi-Year PSUs grant payroll tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

15,389

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

Operating income

 

 

207,884

 

 

 

162,675

 

Other expense (income), net

 

 

45,035

 

 

 

34,383

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

14,724

 

 

 

(49,900

)

Net income

 

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

 

20


 

 

 

Revenue by geography is based on the shipping address of the ultimate customer utilizing the product. The following table presents revenue by geographic area for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

181,046

 

 

$

166,186

 

Other

 

 

17,756

 

 

 

15,983

 

Total Americas

 

 

198,802

 

 

 

182,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe, the Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

65,061

 

 

 

55,207

 

Other

 

 

87,929

 

 

 

76,635

 

Total EMEA

 

 

152,990

 

 

 

131,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asia & Australia:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japan

 

 

19,392

 

 

 

17,948

 

Other

 

 

45,596

 

 

 

39,422

 

Total Asia & Australia

 

 

64,988

 

 

 

57,370

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

Long-lived assets consist of property, equipment, leasehold improvements, goodwill and intangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. The following table presents long-lived assets by geographic area on the dates indicated:

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Long-lived assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

1,772,604

 

 

$

1,781,667

 

Other

 

 

5,065

 

 

 

6,398

 

Total Americas

 

 

1,777,669

 

 

 

1,788,065

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMEA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

75,871

 

 

 

81,338

 

Other

 

 

36,116

 

 

 

36,433

 

Total EMEA

 

 

111,987

 

 

 

117,771

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asia & Australia:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japan

 

 

363

 

 

 

398

 

Other

 

 

9,082

 

 

 

8,829

 

Total Asia & Australia

 

 

9,445

 

 

 

9,227

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,899,101

 

 

$

1,915,063

 

 

 

12. EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

 

In January 2020, MSCI entered into a strategic relationship with Burgiss, a global provider of investment decision support tools for private capital. The Company acquired a 40% non-controlling interest for $190.8 million, including capitalized costs, which is accounted for as an equity method investment with the Company’s share of Burgiss’ earnings being recognized in “Other expense (income), net” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company is applying a policy election to recognize its share of Burgiss’ earnings on a three-month lag. Accordingly, the Company has not recognized any earnings or amortization related to its investment in Burgiss in the three months ended March 31, 2020. MSCI has also elected to apply the nature of the distribution approach to determine the classification of the distributions it receives from its equity method investees.

21


 

 

 

 

The Company’s investment substantially exceeds the Company’s share of the underlying equity of Burgiss. A portion of this excess, representing the excess of the fair value of Burgiss’ intangible assets over their book value, will be amortized into “Other expense (income), net” over the useful lives of the respective intangible assets.

 

 

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Subsequent to the three months ended March 31, 2020 and through April 24, 2020, the Company repurchased an additional 0.1 million shares of common stock at an average price of $273.77 per share for a total value of $31.1 million.

 

On April 27, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.68 per share for the three months ending March 31, 2020. This dividend is payable on May 29, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on May 15, 2020.

 

 

22


 

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 10-K”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in “Item 1A.—Risk Factors,” in our Form 10-K.

Except as the context otherwise indicates, the terms “MSCI,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MSCI Inc., together with its subsidiaries.

Overview

 

We are a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community.  Leveraging our knowledge of the global investment process and our expertise in research, data and technology, our actionable solutions1 power better investment decisions by enabling our clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently and efficiently build more effective portfolios.

 

Investors all over the world use our tools and services to gain insight and improve transparency throughout their investment processes, including to help define their investment universe, inform and analyze their asset allocation and portfolio construction decisions, measure and manage portfolio performance and risk, conduct performance attribution, implement sustainable and other investment strategies, design and issue ETFs and other index-enabled financial products, and facilitate reporting to stakeholders.  

 

Our industry-leading, research-enhanced products and services include indexes; portfolio construction and risk management analytics; ESG research and ratings; and real estate benchmarks, return-analytics and market insights.  Through our integrated franchise we provide solutions across our products and services to support our clients’ dynamic and complex needs.  We are flexible in the delivery of our content and capabilities, much of which can be accessed by our clients through multiple channels and platforms.  

 

We are focused on staying at the forefront of investment trends to address the evolving needs of our clients in a changing industry.  In order to most effectively serve our clients, we are committed to driving an integrated solutions-based approach, achieving service excellence, enhancing our differentiated research and content, and delivering flexible, cutting-edge technology and platforms.    

 

Our clients comprise a wide spectrum of the global investment industry and include the following key client types:

 

 

Asset owners (pension funds, endowments, foundations, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and insurance companies)

 

Asset managers (institutional funds and accounts, mutual funds, hedge funds, ETFs, insurance products, private banks and real estate investment trusts)

 

Financial intermediaries (banks, broker-dealers, exchanges, custodians, trust companies and investment consultants)

 

Wealth managers (including an increasing number of “robo-advisors”)

As of March 31, 2020, we served over 7,700 clients in more than 85 countries. To calculate the number of clients, we use the shipping address of the ultimate customer utilizing the product, which counts affiliates, user locations or business units within a single organization as separate clients. If we aggregate all related clients under their respective parent entity, the number of clients would be over 4,200, as of March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020, we had offices in more than 30 cities across more than 20 countries to help serve our diverse client base, with 47.7% of our revenues coming from clients in the Americas, 36.7% in EMEA and 15.6% in Asia and Australia.

Our principal business model is generally to license annual, recurring subscriptions for the majority of our Index, Analytics and ESG products and services for a fee due in advance of the service period. We also license annual recurring subscriptions for the majority of our Real Estate products for a fee which is primarily paid in arrears after the product is delivered, with the exception of the Market Information product for which the fees are generally paid in advance. A portion of our fees comes from clients who use our indexes as the basis for index-linked investment products. Such fees are primarily based on a client’s assets under management (“AUM”), trading volumes and fee levels. 

 

1 

The term “solutions” as used throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refers to the use of our products or services by our clients to help them achieve their objectives.

23


 

 

 

In evaluating our financial performance, we focus on revenue and profit growth, including results accounted for under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) as well as non-GAAP measures, for the Company as a whole and by operating segment. In addition, we focus on operating metrics, including Run Rate, subscription sales and Retention Rate, to manage the business. Our business is not highly capital intensive and, as such, we expect to continue to convert a high percentage of our profits into excess cash in the future. Our growth strategy includes: (a) expanding leadership in research-enhanced content, (b) strengthening existing and new client relationships by providing solutions, (c) improving access to our solutions through cutting-edge technology and platforms, (d) expanding value-added service offerings and (e) executing strategic relationships and acquisitions with complementary content and technology companies.

In the discussion that follows, we provide certain variances excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations reflect the difference between the current period results as reported compared to the current period results recalculated using the foreign currency exchange rates in effect for the comparable prior period. While operating revenues adjusted for the impact of foreign currency fluctuations includes asset-based fees that have been adjusted for the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, the underlying AUM, which is the primary component of asset-based fees, is not adjusted for foreign currency fluctuations. Approximately two-thirds of the AUM are invested in securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and accordingly, any such impact is excluded from the disclosed foreign currency-adjusted variances.

 

The discussion of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented below. The results of operations for interim periods may not be indicative of future results.

 

 

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

The following table presents the results of operations for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

$

45,399

 

 

 

12.2

%

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

74,609

 

 

 

82,346

 

 

 

(7,737

)

 

 

(9.4

%)

Selling and marketing

 

55,549

 

 

 

56,048

 

 

 

(499

)

 

 

(0.9

%)

Research and development

 

26,562

 

 

 

23,172

 

 

 

3,390

 

 

 

14.6

%

General and administrative

 

30,833

 

 

 

27,497

 

 

 

3,336

 

 

 

12.1

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

 

 

1,983

 

 

 

16.8

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

 

 

(283

)

 

 

(3.6

%)

Total operating expenses

 

208,896

 

 

 

208,706

 

 

 

190

 

 

 

0.1

%

Operating income

 

207,884

 

 

 

162,675

 

 

 

45,209

 

 

 

27.8

%

Other expense (income), net

 

45,035

 

 

 

34,383

 

 

 

10,652

 

 

 

31.0

%

Income before provision for income taxes

 

162,849

 

 

 

128,292

 

 

 

34,557

 

 

 

26.9

%

Provision for income taxes

 

14,724

 

 

 

(49,900

)

 

 

64,624

 

 

 

129.5

%

Net income

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

 

$

(30,067

)

 

 

(16.9

%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per basic common share

$

1.75

 

 

$

2.11

 

 

$

(0.36

)

 

 

(17.1

%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per diluted common share

$

1.73

 

 

$

2.08

 

 

$

(0.35

)

 

 

(16.8

%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating margin

 

49.9

%

 

 

43.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

Our revenues are grouped by the following types: recurring subscriptions, asset-based fees and non-recurring. We also group revenues by major product or reportable segment as follows: Index, Analytics and All Other, which includes the ESG and Real Estate product lines.

24


 

 

 

The following table presents operating revenues by type for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

304,425

 

 

$

282,364

 

 

$

22,061

 

 

 

7.8

%

Asset-based fees

 

100,196

 

 

 

81,808

 

 

 

18,388

 

 

 

22.5

%

Non-recurring

 

12,159

 

 

 

7,209

 

 

 

4,950

 

 

 

68.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

$

45,399

 

 

 

12.2

%

 

Total operating revenues grew 12.2% to $416.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $371.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, total operating revenues would have increased 12.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, growth in operating revenues from recurring subscriptions may moderate in the near term. In addition, the volatility in the global equity markets may adversely impact AUM levels which in turn may impact future operating revenues from asset-based fees.

Operating revenues from recurring subscriptions increased 7.8% to $304.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $282.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily driven by growth across all operating segments. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, revenues from recurring subscriptions would have increased 8.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.  

Operating revenues from asset-based fees increased 22.5% to $100.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $81.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in asset-based fees was driven by strong growth across all types of index-linked investment products, including an increase in revenues from exchange traded futures and options contracts linked to MSCI indexes, primarily driven by an increase in total trading volumes. The increase in revenues from asset-based fees was also driven by higher revenues from non-ETF passive products linked to MSCI indexes, primarily driven by an increase in average AUM. In addition, the increase in revenues from asset-based fees was driven by revenue growth from ETFs linked to MSCI indexes, driven by a 14.5% increase in average AUM for equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes, partially offset by the impact of a change in product mix. Average AUM for equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was higher than AUM for equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes as of the period ended March 31, 2020 as a result of depressed AUM levels in the second half of the quarter, primarily due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global equity markets. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on revenues from asset-based fees was negligible.

The following table presents the value of AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes and the sequential change of such assets as of the end of each of the periods indicated:

 

 

Period Ended

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

(in billions)

March

31,

 

 

June

30,

 

 

September

30,

 

 

December

31,

 

 

March

31,

 

AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes(1), (2), (3)

$

802.2

 

 

$

819.3

 

 

$

815.0

 

 

$

934.4

 

 

$

709.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sequential Change in Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market Appreciation/(Depreciation)

$

78.3

 

 

$

14.9

 

 

$

(9.2

)

 

$

63.5

 

 

$

(216.5

)

Cash Inflows

 

28.3

 

 

 

2.2

 

 

 

4.9

 

 

 

55.9

 

 

 

(8.4

)

Total Change

$

106.6

 

 

$

17.1

 

 

$

(4.3

)

 

$

119.4

 

 

$

(224.9

)

 

The following table presents the average value of AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes for the periods indicated:

 

 

Quarterly Average

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

(in billions)

March

 

 

June

 

 

September

 

 

December

 

 

March

 

AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes(1), (2), (3)

$

766.0

 

 

$

811.4

 

 

$

810.9

 

 

$

869.1

 

 

$

877.1

 

 

(1)

The historical values of the AUM in equity ETFs linked to our indexes as of the last day of the month and the monthly average balance can be found under the link “AUM in equity ETFs Linked to MSCI Indexes” on our Investor Relations homepage at http://ir.msci.com. This information is updated mid-month each month. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or any other report filed with the SEC. The AUM in equity ETFs numbers also include AUM in Exchange Traded Notes, the value of which is less than 1.0% of the AUM amounts presented.

25


 

 

 

(2)

The values for periods prior to April 26, 2019 were based on data from Bloomberg and MSCI, while the values for periods on or after April 26, 2019 were based on data from Refinitiv and MSCI. De minimis amounts of data are reported on a delayed basis.

(3)

The value of AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes is calculated by multiplying the equity ETFs net asset value by the number of shares outstanding.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the average value of AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes was $877.1 billion, up $111.1 billion, or 14.5%, from $766.0 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Non-recurring revenues increased 68.7% to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily driven by growth in Index products, which increased $3.9 million, or 74.3%.

The following table presents operating revenues by reportable segment and revenue type for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

139,840

 

 

$

127,674

 

 

$

12,166

 

 

 

9.5

%

Asset-based fees

 

100,196

 

 

 

81,808

 

 

 

18,388

 

 

 

22.5

%

Non-recurring

 

9,220

 

 

 

5,291

 

 

 

3,929

 

 

 

74.3

%

Index total

 

249,256

 

 

 

214,773

 

 

 

34,483

 

 

 

16.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analytics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

124,065

 

 

 

120,110

 

 

 

3,955

 

 

 

3.3

%

Non-recurring

 

1,443

 

 

 

1,325

 

 

 

118

 

 

 

8.9

%

Analytics total

 

125,508

 

 

 

121,435

 

 

 

4,073

 

 

 

3.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

40,520

 

 

 

34,580

 

 

 

5,940

 

 

 

17.2

%

Non-recurring

 

1,496

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

903

 

 

 

152.3

%

All Other total

 

42,016

 

 

 

35,173

 

 

 

6,843

 

 

 

19.5

%

Total operating revenues

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

$

45,399

 

 

 

12.2

%

 

Refer to the section titled "Segment Results" that follows for further discussion of segment revenues.

 

 

Operating Expenses

We group our operating expenses into the following activity categories:

 

Cost of revenues;

 

Selling and marketing;

 

Research and development (“R&D”);

 

General and administrative (“G&A”);

 

Amortization of intangible assets; and

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements.

26


 

 

 

Costs are assigned to these activity categories based on the nature of the expense or, when not directly attributable, an estimated allocation based on the type of effort involved.

The following table presents operating expenses by activity category for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

$

74,609

 

 

$

82,346

 

 

$

(7,737

)

 

 

(9.4

%)

Selling and marketing

 

55,549

 

 

 

56,048

 

 

 

(499

)

 

 

(0.9

%)

Research and development

 

26,562

 

 

 

23,172

 

 

 

3,390

 

 

 

14.6

%

General and administrative

 

30,833

 

 

 

27,497

 

 

 

3,336

 

 

 

12.1

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

 

 

1,983

 

 

 

16.8

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

 

 

(283

)

 

 

(3.6

%)

Total operating expenses

$

208,896

 

 

$

208,706

 

 

$

190

 

 

 

0.1

%

 

Total operating expenses increased 0.1% to $208.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $208.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, total operating expenses would have increased 1.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues expenses consist of costs related to the production and servicing of our products and services and primarily includes related information technology costs, including data center, platform and infrastructure costs; costs to acquire, produce and maintain market data information; costs of research to support and maintain existing products; costs of product management teams; costs of client service and consultant teams to support customer needs; as well as other support costs directly attributable to the cost of revenues including certain human resources, finance and legal costs. Cost of revenues decreased 9.4% to $74.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $82.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting decreases across the Analytics and Index reportable segments. The change was driven by the absence of $7.0 million of payroll tax expense associated with the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs recognized in 2019, and decreases in compensation and benefits costs, relating to lower incentive compensation and wages and salaries, partially offset by higher benefits costs and non-compensation costs, including information technology and market data costs.

Selling and Marketing

Selling and marketing expenses consist of costs associated with acquiring new clients or selling new products or product renewals to existing clients and primarily includes the costs of our sales and marketing teams, as well as costs incurred in other groups associated with acquiring new business, including product management, research, technology and sales operations. Selling and marketing expenses decreased 0.9% to $55.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $56.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting a decrease in the Index reportable segment. The change was driven by the absence of $4.5 million of payroll tax expense associated with the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs recognized in 2019, partially offset by increases in compensation and benefits costs, primarily relating to higher wages and salaries and benefits costs.

Research and Development

R&D expenses consist of costs to develop new or enhance existing products and costs to develop new or improved technology and service platforms for the delivery of our products and services and primarily include the costs of development, research, product management, project management and the technology support associated with these efforts. R&D expenses increased 14.6% to $26.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $23.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting higher investments across all three reportable segments. The change was driven by increases in compensation and benefits costs, including higher benefits, incentive compensation, severance, and wages and salaries, as well as increases in non-compensation costs, primarily due to higher professional fees and occupancy costs.

27


 

 

 

General and Administrative

G&A expenses consist of costs primarily related to finance operations, human resources, office of the CEO, legal, corporate technology, corporate development and certain other administrative costs that are not directly attributed, but are instead allocated, to a product or service. G&A expenses increased 12.1% to $30.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $27.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting increases across all three reportable segments. The change was driven by increases in compensation and benefits costs, primarily relating to higher incentive compensation, benefits costs, and wages and salaries, partially offset by the absence of $3.5 million of payroll tax expense associated with the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs recognized in 2019.

The following table presents operating expenses using compensation and non-compensation categories, rather than using activity categories, for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

$

137,262

 

 

$

142,173

 

 

$

(4,911

)

 

 

(3.5

%)

Non-compensation expenses

 

50,291

 

 

 

46,890

 

 

 

3,401

 

 

 

7.3

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

 

 

1,983

 

 

 

16.8

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

 

 

(283

)

 

 

(3.6

%)

Total operating expenses

$

208,896

 

 

$

208,706

 

 

$

190

 

 

 

0.1

%

 

Compensation and benefits costs are our most significant expense and typically represent approximately 65% of operating expenses or more than 70% of Adjusted EBITDA expenses. The incentive compensation component of operating expenses is aligned to a number of financial and operating metrics. In the scenario that operating revenue growth and profitability moderates as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incentive compensation component is expected to decrease. A significant portion of the non-compensation component of operating expenses is fixed in nature. However, the discretionary non-compensation component could be reduced in the near-term in the scenario that operating revenue growth moderates as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. We had 3,459 and 3,179 employees as of March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, reflecting an 8.8% growth in the number of employees. Continued growth of our emerging market centers around the world is an important factor in our ability to manage and control the growth of our compensation and benefit expenses. As of March 31, 2020, 63.3% of our employees were located in emerging market centers compared to 62.0% as of March 31, 2019.

Compensation and benefits costs decreased 3.5% to $137.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $142.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily driven by the absence of $15.4 million of payroll tax expense associated with the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs recognized in 2019, partially offset by higher benefits costs, wages and salaries and incentive compensation.

Non-compensation expenses increased 7.3% to $50.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $46.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily driven by higher professional fees, information technology costs, occupancy costs and bad debt expense, partially offset by lower travel and entertainment costs and transaction related costs.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of intangible assets expense relates to definite-lived intangible assets arising from past acquisitions and internal capitalized software projects recognized over their estimated useful lives. Amortization of intangible assets expense increased 16.8% to $13.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $11.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily driven by higher amortization of internally developed capitalized software.

Depreciation and Amortization of Property, Equipment and Leasehold Improvements

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements consists of expenses related to depreciating or amortizing the cost of furniture and fixtures, computer and related equipment and leasehold improvements over the estimated useful life of the assets. Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements of $7.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 remained consistent compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

28


 

 

 

Other Expense (Income), Net

Other expense (income), net increased 31.0% to $45.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $34.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily driven by the $10.0 million loss on debt extinguishment associated with the redemption of the remaining $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Senior Notes, which included approximately $7.9 million of call premium paid in accordance with the redemption prices set forth in the indenture in respect of the 2024 Senior Notes and the write-off of approximately $2.1 million of unamortized costs associated with the remaining 2024 Senior Notes. In addition, the increase reflects higher interest expense associated with higher outstanding debt during the three months ended March 31, 2020, partially offset by higher foreign currency exchange gains.

Given that we have elected a three-month reporting lag in recognizing our proportionate share of Burgiss’ earnings, we will start recognizing our proportionate share of Burgiss’ earnings, net of the amortization related to our investment in Burgiss in the three months ending June 30, 2020.

Income Taxes

The Company’s provision for income taxes was an expense of $14.7 million and a benefit of $49.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These amounts reflect effective tax rates of 9.0% and negative 38.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The effective tax rate of 9.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period which was impacted by certain favorable discrete items totaling $22.4 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, these discrete items primarily related to $18.9 million of excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation vested during the period and $2.6 million related to the tax impact of loss on debt extinguishment recognized during the period. Also included in the discrete items is a $0.8 million benefit related to the revaluation of the cost of deemed repatriation of foreign earnings.

The effective tax rate of negative 38.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 reflected the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period and was impacted by certain discrete items totaling $77.8 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, these discrete items primarily related to $66.6 million of excess tax benefits recognized upon vesting during the period of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs and $9.8 million of excess tax benefits on other share-based compensation vested during the period.

 

Net Income

As a result of the factors described above, net income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased 16.9% to $148.1 million compared to $178.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Weighted Average Shares

The weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share remained consistent for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

“Adjusted EBITDA,” a non-GAAP measure used by management to assess operating performance, is defined as net income before (1) provision for income taxes, (2) other expense (income), net, (3) depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, (4) amortization of intangible assets and, at times, (5) certain other transactions or adjustments, including the impact related to the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs.

“Adjusted EBITDA expenses,” a non-GAAP measure used by management to assess operating performance, is defined as operating expenses less depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements and amortization of intangible assets and, at times, certain other transactions or adjustments, including the impact related to the vesting of the 2016 Multi-Year PSUs.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA expenses are believed to be meaningful measures of the operating performance of the Company because they adjust for significant one-time, unusual or non-recurring items as well as eliminate the accounting effects of certain capital spending and acquisitions that do not directly affect what management considers to be the Company’s core operating performance in the period. All companies do not calculate adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA expenses in the same way. These measures can differ significantly from company to company depending on, among other things, long-term strategic decisions

29


 

 

 

regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which companies operate and capital investments. Accordingly, the Company’s computation of the Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA expenses measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures computed by other companies.

The following table presents the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$

416,780

 

 

$

371,381

 

 

$

45,399

 

 

 

12.2

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

187,553

 

 

 

173,674

 

 

 

13,879

 

 

 

8.0

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

229,227

 

 

$

197,707

 

 

$

31,520

 

 

 

15.9

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

55.0

%

 

 

53.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating margin %

 

49.9

%

 

 

43.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA increased 15.9% to $229.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $197.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased to 55.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to 53.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA Expenses to Operating Expenses

The following table presents the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Index Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

183,587

 

 

$

152,211

 

Analytics Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

36,317

 

 

 

36,398

 

All Other Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

9,323

 

 

 

9,098

 

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

229,227

 

 

 

197,707

 

2016 Multi-Year PSUs grant payroll tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

15,389

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

Operating income

 

 

207,884

 

 

 

162,675

 

Other expense (income), net

 

 

45,035

 

 

 

34,383

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

14,724

 

 

 

(49,900

)

Net income

 

$

148,125

 

 

$

178,192

 

 

The following table presents the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA expenses to operating expenses for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Index Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

$

65,669

 

 

$

62,562

 

Analytics Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

 

89,191

 

 

 

85,037

 

All Other Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

 

32,693

 

 

 

26,075

 

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

 

187,553

 

 

 

173,674

 

2016 Multi-Year PSUs grant payroll tax expense

 

 

 

 

 

15,389

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

13,776

 

 

 

11,793

 

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

7,567

 

 

 

7,850

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

208,896

 

 

$

208,706

 

 

30


 

 

 

The discussion of the segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 is presented below.

 

 

Segment Results

Index Segment

The following table presents the results for the Index segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

139,840

 

 

$

127,674

 

 

$

12,166

 

 

 

9.5

%

Asset-based fees

 

100,196

 

 

 

81,808

 

 

 

18,388

 

 

 

22.5

%

Non-recurring

 

9,220

 

 

 

5,291

 

 

 

3,929

 

 

 

74.3

%

Operating revenues total

 

249,256

 

 

 

214,773

 

 

 

34,483

 

 

 

16.1

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

65,669

 

 

 

62,562

 

 

 

3,107

 

 

 

5.0

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

183,587

 

 

$

152,211

 

 

$

31,376

 

 

 

20.6

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

73.7

%

 

 

70.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues related to Index products increased 16.1% to $249.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $214.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Recurring subscriptions were up 9.5% to $139.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $127.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily driven by growth in custom and specialized index products, core products and factor and ESG index products. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on revenues from recurring subscriptions was negligible.

Revenues from asset-based fees increased 22.5% to $100.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $81.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in asset-based fees was driven by strong growth across all types of index-linked investment products, including an increase in revenues from exchange traded futures and options contracts linked to MSCI indexes, primarily driven by an increase in total trading volumes. The increase in revenues from asset-based fees was also driven by higher revenues from non-ETF passive products linked to MSCI indexes, primarily driven by an increase in average AUM. In addition, the increase in revenues from asset-based fees was driven by revenue growth from ETFs linked to MSCI indexes, driven by a 14.5% increase in average AUM for equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes, partially offset by the impact of a change in product mix. Average AUM for equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was higher than AUM for equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes as of the period ended March 31, 2020 as a result of depressed AUM levels in the second half of the quarter, primarily due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global equity markets. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on revenues from asset-based fees was negligible.

Non-recurring revenues were up 74.3% to $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, driven by derivatives and structured products.

Index segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 5.0% to $65.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $62.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, reflecting higher expenses across the G&A and R&D expense activity categories, partially offset by lower expenses across the selling and marketing expense activity category. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased 6.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

31


 

 

 

Analytics Segment

The following table presents the results for the Analytics segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

124,065

 

 

$

120,110

 

 

$

3,955

 

 

 

3.3

%

Non-recurring

 

1,443

 

 

 

1,325

 

 

 

118

 

 

 

8.9

%

Operating revenues total

 

125,508

 

 

 

121,435

 

 

 

4,073

 

 

 

3.4

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

89,191

 

 

 

85,037

 

 

 

4,154

 

 

 

4.9

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

36,317

 

 

$

36,398

 

 

$

(81

)

 

 

(0.2

%)

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

28.9

%

 

 

30.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analytics segment revenues increased 3.4% to $125.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $121.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was primarily driven by growth in Multi-Asset Class Analytics products. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on Analytics segment revenues was negligible.

Analytics segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 4.9% to $89.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $85.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, primarily driven by higher expenses across the selling and marketing and G&A expense activity categories, partially offset by lower expenses across the cost of revenues expense activity category. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased 6.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

All Other Segment

The following table presents the results for the All Other segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

40,520

 

 

$

34,580

 

 

$

5,940

 

 

 

17.2

%

Non-recurring

 

1,496

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

903

 

 

 

152.3

%

Operating revenues total

 

42,016

 

 

 

35,173

 

 

 

6,843

 

 

 

19.5

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

32,693

 

 

 

26,075

 

 

 

6,618

 

 

 

25.4

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

9,323

 

 

$

9,098

 

 

$

225

 

 

 

2.5

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

22.2

%

 

 

25.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other segment revenues increased 19.5% to $42.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $35.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in All Other revenues was driven by a $3.7 million, or 17.1%, increase in ESG revenues to $25.2 million and a $3.1 million, or 23.2%, increase in Real Estate revenues to $16.8 million. The increase in ESG revenues was driven primarily by growth in the Ratings and Climate products. The increase in Real Estate revenues was primarily driven by strong growth in Enterprise Analytics products and a one-time data license fee recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, All Other operating revenues would have increased 21.3%, ESG revenues would have increased 18.2% and Real Estate revenues would have increased 26.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

All Other segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 25.4% to $32.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $26.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, driven by higher expenses primarily from ESG operations, including expenses associated with Carbon Delta operations. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased 26.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

The All Other segment includes MSCI’s equity method investment in Burgiss, the earnings of which are not included in Adjusted EBITDA, MSCI’s measure of segment profit. Income from the equity method investments will be recognized in “Other expense (income), net” in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

 

32


 

 

 

 

Run Rate

“Run Rate” estimates at a particular point in time the annualized value of the recurring revenues under our client license agreements (“Client Contracts”) for the next 12 months, assuming all Client Contracts that come up for renewal are renewed and assuming then-current currency exchange rates, subject to the adjustments and exclusions described below.  For any Client Contract where fees are linked to an investment product’s assets or trading volume/fees, the Run Rate calculation reflects, for ETFs, the market value on the last trading day of the period, for futures and options, the most recent quarterly volumes and/or reported exchange fees, and for other non-ETF products, the most recent client-reported assets. Run Rate does not include fees associated with “one-time” and other non-recurring transactions.  In addition, we add to Run Rate the annualized fee value of recurring new sales, whether to existing or new clients, when we execute Client Contracts, even though the license start date, and associated revenue recognition, may not be effective until a later date.  We remove from Run Rate the annualized fee value associated with products or services under any Client Contract with respect to which we have received a notice of termination or non-renewal during the period and have determined that such notice evidences the client’s final decision to terminate or not renew the applicable products or services, even though such notice is not effective until a later date.

Changes in our recurring revenues typically lag changes in Run Rate. The actual amount of recurring revenues we will realize over the following 12 months will differ from Run Rate for numerous reasons, including:

 

fluctuations in revenues associated with new recurring sales;

 

modifications, cancellations and non-renewals of existing Client Contracts, subject to specified notice requirements;

 

differences between the recurring license start date and the date the Client Contract is executed due to, for example, contracts with onboarding periods;

 

fluctuations in asset-based fees, which may result from changes in certain investment products’ total expense ratios, market movements, including foreign currency exchange rates, or from investment inflows into and outflows from investment products linked to our indexes;

 

fluctuations in fees based on trading volumes of futures and options contracts linked to our indexes;

 

fluctuations in the number of hedge funds for which we provide investment information and risk analysis to hedge fund investors;

 

price changes;

 

revenue recognition differences under U.S. GAAP, including those related to the timing of implementation and report deliveries for certain of our products and services;

 

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and

 

the impact of acquisitions and divestitures.

33


 

 

 

The following table presents the Run Rates as of the dates indicated and the growth percentages over the periods indicated:

 

 

As of

 

 

Year-Over-

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Year

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

2019

 

 

Comparison

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Index:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

574,132

 

 

$

515,667

 

 

 

11.3

%

Asset-based fees

 

348,218

 

 

 

335,261

 

 

 

3.9

%

Index total

 

922,350

 

 

 

850,928

 

 

 

8.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analytics

 

528,378

 

 

 

496,183

 

 

 

6.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other

 

153,452

 

 

 

130,979

 

 

 

17.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Run Rate

$

1,604,180

 

 

$

1,478,090

 

 

 

8.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions total

$

1,255,962

 

 

$

1,142,829

 

 

 

9.9

%

Asset-based fees

 

348,218

 

 

 

335,261

 

 

 

3.9

%

Total Run Rate

$

1,604,180

 

 

$

1,478,090

 

 

 

8.5

%

 

Total Run Rate grew 8.5% to $1,604.2 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $1,478.1 million at March 31, 2019. Recurring subscriptions Run Rate grew 9.9% to $1,256.0 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $1,142.8 million at March 31, 2019. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, recurring subscriptions Run Rate would have increased 10.2% at March 31, 2020 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Run Rate from asset-based fees increased 3.9% to $348.2 million at March 31, 2020 from $335.3 million at March 31, 2019, primarily driven by higher volume in futures and options as well as higher non-ETF passive funds also linked to MSCI indexes, partially offset by lower AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI indexes. As of March 31, 2020, the value of AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes was $709.5 billion, down $92.7 billion, or 11.6%, from $802.2 billion as of March 31, 2019. The decrease of $92.7 billion consisted of market depreciation of $147.3 billion and net inflows of $54.6 billion. In addition to the decrease in AUM in equity ETFs linked to MSCI indexes, change in product mix as well as fee levels of certain products drove a decline in average basis point fees to 2.71 at March 31, 2020 from 2.88 at March 31, 2019.  

Index recurring subscriptions Run Rate grew 11.3% to $574.1 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $515.7 million at March 31, 2019, driven by strong growth in core products, factor and ESG index products and custom and specialized index products, with strong growth across all our client segments.

Run Rate from Analytics products increased 6.5% to $528.4 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $496.2 million at March 31, 2019, primarily driven by strong growth in Multi-Asset Class and Equity Analytics products. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Analytics Run Rate would have increased 6.6% at March 31, 2020.

Run Rate from All Other products increased 17.2% to $153.5 million at March 31, 2020 compared to $131.0 million at March 31, 2019. The $22.5 million increase was primarily driven by a $19.8 million, or 23.5%, increase in ESG Run Rate to $103.8 million, and a $2.7 million, or 5.8%, increase in Real Estate Run Rate to $49.7 million. The increase in ESG Run Rate was primarily driven by growth in Ratings products, Climate products and Screening products. The increase in Real Estate Run Rate was primarily driven by growth in Global Intel products. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, All Other Run Rate would have increased 19.2% and ESG Run Rate would have increased 24.6%, while Real Estate Run Rate would have increased 9.4% at March 31, 2020 compared to March 31, 2019.

34


 

 

 

Sales

Sales represents the annualized value of products and services clients commit to purchase from MSCI and will result in additional operating revenues. Non-recurring sales represent the actual value of the customer agreements entered into during the period and are not a component of Run Rate. New recurring subscription sales represent additional selling activities, such as new customer agreements, additions to existing agreements or increases in price that occurred during the period and are additions to Run Rate. Subscription cancellations reflect client activities during the period, such as discontinuing products and services and/or reductions in price, resulting in reductions to Run Rate. Net new recurring subscription sales represent the amount of new recurring subscription sales net of subscription cancellations during the period, which reflects the net impact to Run Rate during the period.  

Total gross sales represent the sum of new recurring subscription sales and non-recurring sales. Total net sales represent the total gross sales net of the impact from subscription cancellations.  

The following table presents our recurring subscription sales, cancellations and non-recurring sales by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

Year-Over-

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

Year

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Comparison

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

New recurring subscription sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

$

19,054

 

 

$

17,329

 

 

 

10.0

%

Analytics

 

11,218

 

 

 

12,751

 

 

 

(12.0

%)

All Other

 

8,169

 

 

 

7,215

 

 

 

13.2

%

New recurring subscription sales total

 

38,441

 

 

 

37,295

 

 

 

3.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription cancellations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

(5,116

)

 

 

(4,366

)

 

 

17.2

%

Analytics

 

(8,244

)

 

 

(7,764

)

 

 

6.2

%

All Other

 

(2,053

)

 

 

(1,275

)

 

 

61.0

%

Subscription cancellations total

 

(15,413

)

 

 

(13,405

)

 

 

15.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net new recurring subscription sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

13,938

 

 

 

12,963

 

 

 

7.5

%

Analytics

 

2,974

 

 

 

4,987

 

 

 

(40.4

%)

All Other

 

6,116

 

 

 

5,940

 

 

 

3.0

%

Net new recurring subscription sales total

 

23,028

 

 

 

23,890

 

 

 

(3.6

%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-recurring sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

10,283

 

 

 

5,081

 

 

 

102.4

%

Analytics

 

3,265

 

 

 

2,577

 

 

 

26.7

%

All Other

 

1,031

 

 

 

454

 

 

 

127.1

%

Non-recurring sales total

 

14,579

 

 

 

8,112

 

 

 

79.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

$

29,337

 

 

$

22,410

 

 

 

30.9

%

Analytics

 

14,483

 

 

 

15,328

 

 

 

(5.5

%)

All Other

 

9,200

 

 

 

7,669

 

 

 

20.0

%

Total gross sales

$

53,020

 

 

$

45,407

 

 

 

16.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

$

24,221

 

 

$

18,044

 

 

 

34.2

%

Analytics

 

6,239

 

 

 

7,564

 

 

 

(17.5

%)

All Other

 

7,147

 

 

 

6,394

 

 

 

11.8

%

Total net sales

$

37,607

 

 

$

32,002

 

 

 

17.5

%

 

35


 

 

 

A significant portion of MSCI's operating revenues are derived from subscriptions or licenses of products and services, which are provided over contractually-agreed periods of time that are subject to renewal or cancellation at the end of current contract terms.  As of March 31, 2020, cancellations have not deviated significantly from historical levels as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, new sales may moderate and cancellations may increase in the near term.

Retention Rate

The following table presents our Retention Rate by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

2019

 

Index

96.3%

 

 

96.5%

 

Analytics

93.7%

 

 

93.7%

 

All Other

94.6%

 

 

95.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

95.0%

 

 

95.2%

 

 

Retention Rate is an important metric because subscription cancellations decrease our Run Rate and ultimately our operating revenues over time. The annual Retention Rate represents the retained subscription Run Rate (subscription Run Rate at the beginning of the fiscal year less actual cancels during the year) as a percentage of the subscription Run Rate at the beginning of the fiscal year.

The Retention Rate for a non-annual period is calculated by annualizing the cancellations for which we have received a notice of termination or for which we believe there is an intention not to renew during the non-annual period, and we believe that such notice or intention evidences the client’s final decision to terminate or not renew the applicable agreement, even though such notice is not effective until a later date. This annualized cancellation figure is then divided by the subscription Run Rate at the beginning of the fiscal year to calculate a cancellation rate. This cancellation rate is then subtracted from 100% to derive the annualized Retention Rate for the period.

Retention Rate is computed by operating segment on a product/service-by-product/service basis. In general, if a client reduces the number of products or services to which it subscribes within a segment, or switches between products or services within a segment, we treat it as a cancellation for purposes of calculating our Retention Rate except in the case of a product or service switch that management considers to be a replacement product or service. In those replacement cases, only the net change to the client subscription, if a decrease, is reported as a cancel.  In the Analytics and the ESG segments, substantially all product or service switches are treated as replacement products or services and netted in this manner, while in our Index and Real Estate segments, product or service switches that are treated as replacement products or services and receive netting treatment occur only in certain limited instances. In addition, we treat any reduction in fees resulting from a down-sale of the same product or service as a cancellation to the extent of the reduction. We do not calculate Retention Rate for that portion of our Run Rate attributable to assets in index-linked investment products or futures and options contracts, in each case, linked to our indexes.

In our product lines, Retention Rate is generally higher during the first three quarters and lower in the fourth quarter, as the fourth quarter is traditionally the largest renewal period in the year.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We describe our significant accounting policies in Note 1, “Introduction and Basis of Presentation,” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10-K and also in Note 2, “Recent Accounting Standards Updates,” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. There have been no significant changes in our accounting policies or critical accounting estimates since the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 other than those described in Note 2, “Recent Accounting Standards Updates” in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We require capital to fund ongoing operations, internal growth initiatives and acquisitions. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows generated from our operations, existing cash and cash equivalents and credit capacity under our existing credit facility. In addition, we believe we have access to additional funding in the public and private markets. We intend to use these sources of liquidity to, among other things, service our existing and future debt obligations, fund our working capital requirements for capital expenditures, investments, acquisitions and dividend payments, and repurchases of our common stock. In connection with our business strategy, we regularly evaluate acquisition and strategic partnership opportunities. We believe our liquidity, along with other financing alternatives, will provide the necessary capital to fund these transactions and achieve our planned growth.

36


 

 

 

Senior Notes and Credit Agreement

We have an aggregate of $3,200.0 million in Senior Notes outstanding and a $400.0 million Revolving Credit Agreement with a syndicate of banks. See Note 7, “Commitments and Contingencies,” of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our Senior Notes and Revolving Credit Agreement.

The Senior Notes and the Revolving Credit Agreement are fully and unconditionally, and jointly and severally, guaranteed by our direct or indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries that account for more than 5% of our and our subsidiaries’ consolidated assets, other than certain excluded subsidiaries (the “subsidiary guarantors”). Amounts due under the Revolving Credit Agreement are our and the subsidiary guarantors’ senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with the Senior Notes and any of our other unsecured, unsubordinated debt, senior to any of our subordinated debt and effectively subordinated to our secured debt to the extent of the assets securing such debt.

The indentures governing our Senior Notes (the “Indentures”) among us, each of the subsidiary guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, contain covenants that limit our and certain of our subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, incur liens, enter into sale/leaseback transactions and consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, the Indentures restrict our non-guarantor subsidiaries’ ability to create, assume, incur or guarantee additional indebtedness without such non-guarantor subsidiaries guaranteeing the Senior Notes on a pari passu basis.

The Revolving Credit Agreement contains affirmative and restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of our existing or future subsidiaries to:

 

incur liens and further negative pledges;

 

incur additional indebtedness or prepay, redeem or repurchase indebtedness;

 

make loans or hold investments;

 

merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another person;

 

enter into acquisition transactions;

 

enter into sale/leaseback transactions;

 

issue disqualified capital stock;

 

sell, transfer or dispose of assets;

 

pay dividends or make other distributions in respect of our capital stock or engage in stock repurchases, redemptions and other restricted payments;

 

create new subsidiaries;

 

permit certain restrictions affecting our subsidiaries;

 

change the nature of our business, accounting policies or fiscal periods;

 

enter into any transactions with affiliates other than on an arm’s-length basis; and

 

amend our organizational documents or amend, modify or change the terms of certain agreements relating to our indebtedness.

The Revolving Credit Agreement and the Indentures also contain customary events of default, including those relating to non-payment, breach of representations, warranties or covenants, cross-default and cross-acceleration, bankruptcy and insolvency events, invalidity or impairment of loan documentation or collateral, change of control and customary ERISA defaults. None of the restrictions above are expected to impact our ability to effectively operate the business.

The Revolving Credit Agreement also requires us and our subsidiaries to achieve financial and operating results sufficient to maintain compliance with the following financial ratios on a consolidated basis through the termination of the Revolving Credit Agreement: (1) the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) measured quarterly on a rolling four-quarter basis shall not exceed 4.25:1.00 and (2) the minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) measured quarterly on a rolling four-quarter basis shall be at least 4.00:1.00. As of March 31, 2020, our Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 3.29:1.00 and our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio was 6.43:1.00. As of March 31, 2020, $5.0 million was drawn and outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement, which bears interest of LIBOR plus 1.50%, or a rate of 2.25%. The $5.0 million plus accrued interest was paid on April 20, 2020.

37


 

 

 

Our non-guarantor subsidiaries under the Senior Notes consist of: (i) domestic subsidiaries of the Company that account for 5% or less of consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and (ii) any foreign or domestic subsidiary of the Company that is deemed to be a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Our non-guarantor subsidiaries accounted for approximately $913.3 million, or 57.0%, of our total revenue for the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2020, approximately $298.2 million, or 37.2%, of our consolidated operating income for the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2020, and approximately $874.5 million, or 22.3%, of our consolidated total assets (excluding intercompany assets) and $583.6 million, or 13.7%, of our consolidated total liabilities, in each case as of March 31, 2020.

Share Repurchases

The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of the Company’s common stock pursuant to open market repurchases:

 

Three Months Ended

 

Average

Price

Paid Per

Share

 

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Repurchased

 

 

Dollar

Value of

Shares

Repurchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

March 31, 2020

 

$

248.65

 

 

 

1,310

 

 

$

325,698

 

March 31, 2019

 

$

147.97

 

 

 

690

 

 

$

102,081

 

 

As of March 31, 2020, there was $1,130.4 million of available authorization remaining under the 2019 Repurchase Program.

Cash Dividend

On April 27, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.68 per share for the three months ending March 31, 2020. This dividend is payable on May 29, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on May 15, 2020.

 

Cash Flows

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,066,856

 

 

$

1,506,567

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents were $1,066.9 million and $1,506.6 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. We typically seek to maintain minimum cash balances globally of approximately $200.0 million to $250.0 million for general operating purposes but may maintain higher minimum cash balances while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact global economic markets. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, $290.0 million and $321.2 million, respectively, of the cash and cash equivalents were held by foreign subsidiaries. As a result of Tax Reform, we can now more efficiently access a significant portion of our cash held outside of the U.S. in the short-term without being subject to U.S. income taxes. Repatriation of some foreign cash may still be subject to certain withholding taxes in local jurisdictions and other distribution restrictions. The global cash and cash equivalent balances that are maintained will be available to meet our global needs whether for general corporate purposes or other needs, including acquisitions or expansion of our products.

We believe that global cash flows from operations, together with existing cash and cash equivalents and funds available under our existing credit facility and our ability to access the debt and capital markets for additional funds, will continue to be sufficient to fund our global operating activities and cash commitments for investing and financing activities, such as material capital expenditures and share repurchases, for at least the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future thereafter. In addition, we expect that foreign cash flows from operations, together with existing cash and cash equivalents will continue to be sufficient to fund our foreign operating activities and cash commitments for investing activities, such as material capital expenditures, for at least the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future thereafter.

 

38


 

 

 

Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

112,770

 

 

$

87,875

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(201,638

)

 

 

(8,136

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(340,081

)

 

 

(341,635

)

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

 

(10,762

)

 

 

501

 

Net decrease in cash

 

$

(439,711

)

 

$

(261,395

)

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities consist of net income adjusted for certain non-cash items and changes in assets and liabilities. Cash provided by operating activities was $112.8 million and $87.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by higher cash collections from customers and the benefit of lower payments for income taxes, partially offset by higher payments for cash expenses and interest.

Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for the payment of cash compensation expenses, office rent, technology costs, market data costs, interest expenses and income taxes. Historically, the payment of cash for compensation and benefits is at its highest level in the first quarter when we pay discretionary employee compensation related to the previous fiscal year.

 

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ending December 31, 2020 are expected to decrease from those for the year ended December 31, 2019, in part, from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities was $201.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The year-over-year change was primarily driven by the $190.8 million investment in Burgiss.

 

We expect to continue to invest in the business despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with cash flows for capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2020 expected to increase from the year ended December 31, 2019.

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities was $340.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to $341.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The year-over-year change primarily reflects proceeds from the $400.0 million 2030 Senior Notes offering in February 2020, partially offset by the payment to redeem the remaining $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Senior Notes and higher share repurchases.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Foreign Currency Risk

We are subject to foreign currency exchange fluctuation risk. Exchange rate movements can impact the U.S. dollar-reported value of our revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities denominated in non-U.S. dollar currencies or where the currency of such items is different than the functional currency of the entity where these items were recorded.

39


 

 

 

We generally invoice our clients in U.S. dollars; however, we invoice a portion of our clients in Euros, British pounds sterling, Japanese yen and a limited number of other non-U.S. dollar currencies. For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 14.0% and 13.7%, respectively, of our revenues are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk and primarily includes clients billed in foreign currency as well as U.S. dollar exposures on non-U.S. dollar foreign operating entities. Of the 14.0% of non-U.S. dollar exposure for the three months ended March 31, 2020, 38.9% was in Euros, 26.6% was in Japanese yen and 23.3% was in British pounds sterling. Of the 13.7% of non-U.S. dollar exposure for the three months ended March 31, 2019, 40.0% was in Euros, 27.2% was in Japanese yen and 20.2% was in British pounds sterling.

Revenues from index-linked investment products represented 24.0% and 22.0% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. While a substantial portion of our fees for index-linked investment products are invoiced in U.S. dollars, the fees are based on the investment product’s assets, of which approximately two-thirds are invested in securities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, declines in such other currencies against the U.S. dollar will decrease the fees payable to us under such licenses. In addition, declines in such currencies against the U.S. dollar could impact the attractiveness of such investment products resulting in net fund outflows, which would further reduce the fees payable under such licenses.

We are exposed to additional foreign currency risk in certain of our operating costs. Approximately 41.3% and 41.8% of our operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were denominated in foreign currencies, the significant majority of which were denominated in British pounds sterling, Indian rupees, Hungarian forints, Euros, Hong Kong dollars, Swiss francs, and Mexican pesos. Expenses incurred in foreign currency may increase as we expand our business outside the U.S.

We have certain monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than local functional amounts and when these balances are remeasured into their local functional currency, either a gain or a loss results from the change of the value of the functional currency as compared to the originating currencies. We manage foreign currency exchange rate risk, in part, through the use of derivative financial instruments comprised principally of forward contracts on foreign currency which are not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. The objective of the derivative instruments is to minimize the impact on the income statement of the volatility of amounts denominated in certain foreign currencies. We recognized total foreign currency exchange gains of $1.9 million and losses of $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), as of March 31, 2020, and have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. These disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the three months ended March 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

40


 

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item  1.

Various lawsuits, claims and proceedings have been or may be instituted or asserted against the Company in the ordinary course of business. While the amounts claimed could be substantial, the ultimate liability cannot now be determined because of the considerable uncertainties that exist. Therefore, it is possible that MSCI’s business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows in a particular period could be materially affected by certain contingencies. However, based on facts currently available, management believes that the disposition of matters that are currently pending or asserted will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on MSCI’s business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows.

 

 

Item  1A.

Risk Factors

 

The risk factors presented below supplement, update, supersede and/or replace, as appropriate, the risk factors found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Annual Report”).

 

The COVID-19 pandemic, or other widespread health crises, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic disruption, including volatility in the global equity markets. Due to ongoing uncertainty related to the duration, magnitude and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects on our business are uncertain and difficult to predict, but may include:

 

 

significant failures, errors, delays, disruptions or instability affecting our key products or services, vendors, suppliers, distributors, information technology platforms, data centers, production and delivery systems, applications or processes, including those that negatively affect our ability to calculate, process or distribute our products or service our clients effectively;

 

adverse equity market conditions, volatility in the financial markets and unforeseen investment trends resulting in a reduction in our asset-based fees, increased cancellations and reduced demand for our products and services;

 

prolonged selling cycles and increased pressures to reduce our fees on account of heightened financial and budgetary pressures affecting our clients;

 

an inability to sustain revenue growth through obtaining new clients and achieving and maintaining a high level of renewal rates with respect to our existing clients;

 

delays in our ability to collect on our accounts receivables;

 

higher than expected operating costs resulting from efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

a deterioration of worldwide credit and financial markets that could limit our ability to obtain external financing to fund our operations and capital expenditures; and

 

increased strain on our workforce, management and other resources, including employee absenteeism and illness of key personnel.

These effects, alone or taken together, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If the COVID-19 pandemic is sustained or prolonged, these effects could be exacerbated. For a discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our 2019 Annual Report. Many of these risk factors may be exacerbated by global widespread health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, including risks related to our dependence on third party data, client fee pressure, cancellations and reductions in services, technology instability and failure, lower growth and profitability rates, changes in investment practices and trends, and our ability to remain competitive.

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

There have been no unregistered sales of equity securities.

The table below presents information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of the Company of its common shares during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

 

 

41


 

 

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased(1)

 

 

Average Price

Paid

Per Share

 

 

Total

Number of

Shares

Purchased

As Part of

Publicly

Announced

Plans

or Programs

 

 

Approximate

Dollar

Value of Shares

that May Yet

Be

Purchased

Under

the Plans or

Programs(2)

 

January 1, 2020-January 31, 2020

 

 

900

 

 

$

268.85

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,456,072,000

 

February 1, 2020-February 29, 2020

 

 

149,419

 

 

$

307.04

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,456,072,000

 

March 1, 2020-March 31, 2020

 

 

1,313,482

 

 

$

248.79

 

 

 

1,309,878

 

 

$

1,130,387,000

 

Total

 

 

1,463,801

 

 

$

254.74

 

 

 

1,309,878

 

 

$

1,130,387,000

 

 

(1)

Includes (i) shares purchased by the Company on the open market under the 2019 Repurchase Program; (ii) shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations on behalf of employees that occur upon vesting and delivery of outstanding shares underlying restricted stock units; (iii) shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations and exercise price on behalf of employees that occur upon exercise and delivery of outstanding shares underlying stock options; and (iv) shares held in treasury under the MSCI Inc. Non-Employee Directors Deferral Plan. The value of shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations was determined using the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of withholding, using a valuation methodology established by the Company.

(2)

See Note 9, “Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit)” of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information regarding our stock repurchase programs.

 

 

Item  3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

 

Item  4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

 

Item  5.

Other Information

None.

 

 

42


 

 

 

Item  6.

Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

  

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

 

 

 

 

  

   3.1

  

Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 001-33812), filed with the SEC on May 4, 2012 and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

   3.2

  

Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 001-33812), filed with the SEC on May 4, 2012 and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

   4.1

  

Indenture, dated as of March 4, 2020, among MSCI Inc., each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-33812), filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020 and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

   4.2

  

Form of Note for MSCI Inc. 3.625% Senior Notes due September 1, 2030 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-33812), filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020 and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

*†

 

  10.1

 

Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock Units for Directors Under the MSCI Inc. 2016 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  11

  

Statement Re: Computation of Earnings Per Common Share (The calculation of per share earnings is in Part I, Item 1, Note 4 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Earnings Per Common Share) and is omitted in accordance with Section (b)(11) of Item 601 of Regulation S-K)

 

 

 

*

  

  31.1

  

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

  31.2

  

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

**

  

  32.1

  

Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

*

  

101.INS

  

XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.SCH

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.CAL

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.LAB

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

  

101.PRE

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

  

101.DEF

  

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

*

  

104.DEF

  

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

 

*

  

Filed herewith.

**

  

Furnished herewith.

 

Indicates a management compensation plan, contract or arrangement.

 

43


 

 

 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: April 29, 2020

 

 

MSCI INC.

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Linda S. Huber

 

 

Linda S. Huber

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

44