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MSCI Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 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, 2022

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 19, 2022, there were 81,123,043 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01, outstanding.

 

 

 


 

 

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Part I – Financial Information

 

 

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements

 

4

Item 2.

 

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

 

20

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

36

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part II – Other Information

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

38

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

38

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

39

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

41

 

2


 

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Our corporate headquarters is located at 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 49th Floor, New York, New York, 10007, and our telephone number is (212) 804-3900. We maintain a website on the internet at www.msci.com. The contents of our website are not a part of or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge, on or through our website, these reports, proxy statements and other information as soon as reasonably practicable following the time they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. To access these, click on the “SEC Filings” link found on our Investor Relations homepage (http://ir.msci.com).

We also use our Investor Relations homepage, Corporate Responsibility homepage and corporate Twitter account (@MSCI_Inc) as channels of distribution of Company information. The information we post through these channels may be deemed material.

Accordingly, investors should monitor these channels, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about us when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Email Alert Subscription” section of our Investor Relations homepage at http://ir.msci.com/alerts.cfm. The contents of our website, including our Investor Relations homepage, Corporate Responsibility homepage and social media channels are not, however, a part of or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We have included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and from time to time may make in our public filings, press releases or other public statements, certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, our management may make forward-looking statements to analysts, investors, representatives of the media and others. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and represent only MSCI’s beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control.

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.  Statements concerning our financial position, business strategy and plans or objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. 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 our control and that could materially affect our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Such risks and uncertainties include those set forth under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 11, 2022. Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements can be found in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this report speak only as of the time they are made and do not necessarily reflect our outlook at any other point in time. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or for any other reason. Therefore, readers should carefully review the risk factors set forth in other reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC.

3


 

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,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

679,315

 

 

$

1,421,449

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances

 

 

592,326

 

 

 

664,511

 

Prepaid income taxes

 

 

13,050

 

 

 

5,951

 

Prepaid and other assets

 

 

47,730

 

 

 

51,499

 

Total current assets

 

 

1,332,421

 

 

 

2,143,410

 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

 

 

64,682

 

 

 

66,715

 

Right of use assets

 

 

134,368

 

 

 

144,584

 

Goodwill

 

 

2,235,199

 

 

 

2,236,386

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

585,058

 

 

 

593,341

 

Equity method investment

 

 

218,128

 

 

 

218,763

 

Deferred tax assets

 

 

53,612

 

 

 

40,119

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

68,361

 

 

 

63,385

 

Total assets

 

$

4,691,829

 

 

$

5,506,703

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

12,956

 

 

$

13,448

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

83,589

 

 

 

59,635

 

Accrued compensation and related benefits

 

 

70,749

 

 

 

207,640

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

160,929

 

 

 

145,302

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

832,203

 

 

 

824,912

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

1,160,426

 

 

 

1,250,937

 

Long-term debt

 

 

4,162,465

 

 

 

4,161,422

 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

139,895

 

 

 

150,029

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

3,347

 

 

 

3,650

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

104,885

 

 

 

104,132

 

Total liabilities

 

 

5,571,018

 

 

 

5,670,170

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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; 133,579,809

   and 133,162,178 common shares issued and 81,168,130 and 82,439,449 common

   shares outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)

 

 

1,336

 

 

 

1,332

 

Treasury shares, at cost (52,411,679 and 50,722,729 common shares held at March 31, 2022

   and December 31, 2021, respectively)

 

 

(5,417,822

)

 

 

(4,540,144

)

Additional paid in capital

 

 

1,480,454

 

 

 

1,457,623

 

Retained earnings

 

 

3,117,660

 

 

 

2,976,517

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(60,817

)

 

 

(58,795

)

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)

 

 

(879,189

)

 

 

(163,467

)

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity (deficit)

 

$

4,691,829

 

 

$

5,506,703

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4


 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

Operating revenues

 

$

559,945

 

 

$

478,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

 

 

102,771

 

 

 

85,780

 

 

Selling and marketing

 

 

66,053

 

 

 

56,467

 

 

Research and development

 

 

28,322

 

 

 

24,862

 

 

General and administrative

 

 

45,567

 

 

 

34,728

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and

   leasehold improvements

 

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

270,967

 

 

 

224,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

288,978

 

 

 

254,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

(298

)

 

 

(386

)

 

Interest expense

 

 

40,714

 

 

 

37,584

 

 

Other expense (income)

 

 

(381

)

 

 

1,149

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expense (income), net

 

 

40,035

 

 

 

38,347

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

 

248,943

 

 

 

216,028

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

20,520

 

 

 

19,209

 

 

Net income

 

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

2.80

 

 

$

2.38

 

 

Diluted

 

$

2.78

 

 

$

2.36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

81,591

 

 

 

82,640

 

 

Diluted

 

 

82,286

 

 

 

83,493

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

5


 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

 

(unaudited)

Net income

 

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

(2,950

)

 

 

(1,705

)

 

Income tax effect

 

 

862

 

 

 

612

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net

 

 

(2,088

)

 

 

(1,093

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension and other post-retirement adjustments

 

 

110

 

 

 

256

 

 

Income tax effect

 

 

(44

)

 

 

(120

)

 

Pension and other post-retirement adjustments, net

 

 

66

 

 

 

136

 

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax

 

 

(2,022

)

 

 

(957

)

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

226,401

 

 

$

195,862

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6


 

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, 2021

 

$

1,332

 

 

$

(4,540,144

)

 

$

1,457,623

 

 

$

2,976,517

 

 

$

(58,795

)

 

$

(163,467

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

228,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

228,423

 

Dividends declared ($1.04 per common share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(87,280

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(87,280

)

Dividends paid in shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

77

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,022

)

 

 

(2,022

)

Common stock issued

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises

 

 

 

 

 

 

(105,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(105,000

)

Compensation payable in common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,754

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22,754

 

Common stock repurchased and held in treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(772,657

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(772,657

)

Common stock issued to Directors and

  (held in)/released from treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21

)

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

$

1,336

 

 

$

(5,417,822

)

 

$

1,480,454

 

 

$

3,117,660

 

 

$

(60,817

)

 

$

(879,189

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2020

 

$

1,328

 

 

$

(4,342,535

)

 

$

1,402,537

 

 

$

2,554,295

 

 

$

(58,859

)

 

$

(443,234

)

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

196,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

196,819

 

Dividends declared ($0.78 per common share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(65,947

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(65,947

)

Dividends paid in shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66

 

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(957

)

 

 

(957

)

Common stock issued

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

Shares withheld for tax withholding and exercises

 

 

 

 

 

 

(52,814

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(52,814

)

Compensation payable in common stock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,842

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,842

 

Common stock repurchased and held in treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(134,340

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(134,340

)

Common stock issued to Directors and

  (held in)/released from treasury

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(20

)

Balance at March 31, 2021

 

$

1,331

 

 

$

(4,529,709

)

 

$

1,421,445

 

 

$

2,685,167

 

 

$

(59,816

)

 

$

(481,582

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7


 

MSCI INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

 

22,857

 

 

 

18,910

 

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

Amortization of right of use assets

 

 

6,292

 

 

 

6,128

 

Amortization of debt origination fees

 

 

1,403

 

 

 

1,107

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

(12,961

)

 

 

1,142

 

Other adjustments

 

 

933

 

 

 

3,363

 

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

70,417

 

 

 

50,630

 

Prepaid income taxes

 

 

(7,170

)

 

 

6,312

 

Prepaid and other assets

 

 

3,062

 

 

 

5,611

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

(5,005

)

 

 

23

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(2,060

)

 

 

(7,901

)

Accrued compensation and related benefits

 

 

(135,148

)

 

 

(94,323

)

Income taxes payable

 

 

24,257

 

 

 

1,709

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

15,161

 

 

 

12,888

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

10,932

 

 

 

(2,790

)

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

(5,542

)

 

 

(5,898

)

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

1,695

 

 

 

2,300

 

Other

 

 

(1,616

)

 

 

(2,784

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

244,184

 

 

 

215,457

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalized software development costs

 

 

(14,084

)

 

 

(9,696

)

Capital expenditures

 

 

(1,254

)

 

 

(664

)

Other

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(15,310

)

 

 

(10,360

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings, inclusive of premium

 

 

5,000

 

 

 

503,750

 

Repayment of borrowings

 

 

(5,000

)

 

 

 

Repurchase of common stock held in treasury

 

 

(877,657

)

 

 

(187,154

)

Payment of dividends

 

 

(87,769

)

 

 

(66,087

)

Payment of debt issuance costs in connection with debt

 

 

(559

)

 

 

(4,967

)

Payment of contingent consideration

 

 

(132

)

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

 

(966,117

)

 

 

245,542

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

 

(4,891

)

 

 

(4,013

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

 

 

(742,134

)

 

 

446,626

 

Cash and cash equivalent, beginning of period

 

 

1,421,449

 

 

 

1,300,521

 

Cash and cash equivalent, end of period

 

$

679,315

 

 

$

1,747,147

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$

27,776

 

 

$

19,326

 

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received

 

$

17,645

 

 

$

9,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements in other accrued liabilities

 

$

6,118

 

 

$

3,687

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared, but not yet paid

 

$

2,361

 

 

$

1,208

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

8


 

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”) is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and solutions for the global investment community. Our mission-critical offerings help investors address the challenges of a transforming investment landscape and power better investment decisions. Leveraging our knowledge of the global investment process and our expertise in research, data and technology, we enable our clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently and efficiently build more effective portfolios. Our products and services include indexes; portfolio construction and risk management tools; environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) and climate solutions; and real estate market and transaction data and analysis.

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, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the results of operations, comprehensive income and shareholders’ equity (deficit) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. The unaudited condensed consolidated statement of financial condition and related financial statement information as of December 31, 2021 have been derived from the 2021 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, 2021.  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. The Company makes 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 operating revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Significant estimates and judgments made by management include such examples as assessment of impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and income taxes. 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. Inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Concentrations

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) accounted for 10.9% and 12.0% of the Company’s consolidated operating revenues, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, BlackRock accounted for 18.0% and 19.2% of the Index segment’s operating revenues, respectively. No single customer represented 10.0% or more of operating revenues within the Analytics, ESG and Climate and All Other – Private Assets segments for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts from December 31, 2020 to March 31, 2022 were as follows:

 

 

 

Amount

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

 

$

1,583

 

Addition (reduction) to credit loss expense

 

 

1,210

 

Write-offs, net of recoveries

 

 

(456

)

Balance as of December 31, 2021

 

$

2,337

 

Addition (reduction) to credit loss expense

 

 

364

 

Adjustments and write-offs, net of recoveries

 

 

(186

)

Balance as of March 31, 2022

 

$

2,515

 

 

2. RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATES

There are no pending accounting standards updates that are currently expected to have a material impact on the Company.

9


 

 

3. REVENUE RECOGNITION

MSCI’s operating revenues are reported by product type, which generally reflects the timing of recognition. The Company’s operating revenue types are recurring subscriptions, asset-based fees and non-recurring revenues. The Company also disaggregates operating revenues by segment.

The tables that follow present the disaggregated operating revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2022

 

 

 

Segments

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Index

 

 

Analytics

 

 

ESG and Climate

 

 

All Other - Private Assets

 

 

Total

 

Operating Revenue Types

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

$

174,498

 

 

$

137,799

 

 

$

50,572

 

 

$

36,891

 

 

$

399,760

 

Asset-based fees

 

 

145,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

145,053

 

Non-recurring

 

 

11,208

 

 

 

1,998

 

 

 

1,457

 

 

 

469

 

 

 

15,132

 

Total

 

$

330,759

 

 

$

139,797

 

 

$

52,029

 

 

$

37,360

 

 

$

559,945

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2021

 

 

 

Segments

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Index

 

 

Analytics

 

 

ESG and Climate

 

 

All Other - Private Assets

 

 

Total

 

Operating Revenue Types

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

$

155,117

 

 

$

131,672

 

 

$

34,140

 

 

$

16,803

 

 

$

337,732

 

Asset-based fees

 

 

126,706

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

126,706

 

Non-recurring

 

 

10,668

 

 

 

2,345

 

 

 

610

 

 

 

362

 

 

 

13,985

 

Total

 

$

292,491

 

 

$

134,017

 

 

$

34,750

 

 

$

17,165

 

 

$

478,423

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Opening (December 31, 2021)

 

$

664,511

 

 

$

824,912

 

Closing (March 31, 2022)

 

 

592,326

 

 

 

832,203

 

Increase/(decrease)

 

$

(72,185

)

 

$

7,291

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Opening (December 31, 2020)

 

$

558,569

 

 

$

675,870

 

Closing (March 31, 2021)

 

 

506,849

 

 

 

672,054

 

Increase/(decrease)

 

$

(51,720

)

 

$

(3,816

)

 

 

The amount of revenue recognized in the period that was included in the opening current deferred revenue, which reflects contract liability amounts, was $339.7 million and $270.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The difference between the opening and closing balances of the Company’s deferred revenue is primarily driven by an increase in billings, partially offset by an increase in amortization of deferred revenue to operating revenues. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company carried a long-term deferred revenue balance of $24.4 million and $23.4 million, respectively, in “Other non-current liabilities” on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

10


 

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,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

First 12-month period

 

$

502,988

 

Second 12-month period

 

 

291,127

 

Third 12-month period

 

 

101,402

 

Periods thereafter

 

 

61,645

 

Total

 

$

957,162

 

 

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. Diluted EPS reflects the assumed conversion of all dilutive securities, including, when applicable, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance stock units (“PSUs”) and performance stock options (“PSOs”).

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

81,591

 

 

 

82,640

 

Effect of dilutive securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PSUs, RSUs and PSOs

 

 

695

 

 

 

853

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

82,286

 

 

 

83,493

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per basic common share

 

$

2.80

 

 

$

2.38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per diluted common share

 

$

2.78

 

 

$

2.36

 

 

 

5. ACQUISITIONS

On September 13, 2021, MSCI acquired all of the issued and outstanding preferred and common shares of Real Capital Analytics, Inc (“RCA”) for an aggregate cash purchase price of $949.0 million. This acquisition expands MSCI’s suite of real estate solutions, providing the real estate industry with data, analytics, and support tools to manage investments and understand performance and risk, including climate risk, within their portfolios. RCA has been accounted for as a business combination using the acquisition method of accounting and has been integrated into the All Other – Private Assets reportable segment, as a component of the Real Estate operating segment. A portion of RCA’s client agreements do not have automatic renewal clauses at the end of the subscription period. Due to the historically high retention rate and expectation that a substantial portion of the client agreements will be renewed, the associated revenue is recorded as recurring subscription revenue.

11


 

The components of the preliminary purchase price allocation were as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimated

Useful Life

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

$

9,645

 

Other current assets

 

 

 

 

3,721

 

Property, equipment and leasehold

  improvements, net

 

 

 

 

1,204

 

Right of use assets

 

 

 

 

6,441

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

 

 

3,270

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

 

 

(35,194

)

Other current liabilities

 

 

 

 

(15,000

)

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

 

 

 

(4,849

)

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

 

 

(85,196

)

Intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proprietary data

 

11 years

 

 

185,500

 

Customer relationships

 

20 years

 

 

175,800

 

Acquired technology and software

 

9 years

 

 

31,500

 

Trademarks

 

2 years

 

 

890

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

 

671,227

 

Purchase price, net of cash acquired

 

 

 

$

948,959

 

The purchase price allocation is based on preliminary valuations and assessments. The estimates and assumptions used may be subject to change within the measurement period, particularly for acquired intangible assets and deferred taxes. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company early adopted ASU 2021-08, which resulted in an increase to deferred revenue and goodwill and a decrease in deferred tax liabilities recorded as of the opening balance sheet date.

The recorded goodwill is primarily attributable to the utilization of the acquired data as well as expanded market opportunities. Goodwill attributable to the acquisition is not deductible for income tax purposes.

Revenue of RCA recognized within the condensed consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2022 was $19.2 million.

 

6. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, NET

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

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Computer & related equipment

 

$

180,600

 

 

$

179,557

 

Furniture & fixtures

 

 

15,162

 

 

 

14,194

 

Leasehold improvements

 

 

57,138

 

 

 

56,308

 

Work-in-process

 

 

2,617

 

 

 

2,699

 

Subtotal

 

 

255,517

 

 

 

252,758

 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

(190,835

)

 

 

(186,043

)

Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

 

$

64,682

 

 

$

66,715

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense of property, equipment and leasehold improvements was $6.5 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

 

12


 

 

7. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

Goodwill

The following table presents goodwill by reportable segment:

 

(in thousands)

 

Index

 

 

Analytics

 

 

ESG and Climate

 

 

All Other - Private Assets

 

 

Total

 

Goodwill at December 31, 2021

 

$

1,205,443

 

 

$

290,976

 

 

$

48,047

 

 

$

691,920

 

 

$

2,236,386

 

Acquisitions (1)

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

353

 

 

$

353

 

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

(953

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(587

)

 

 

(1,540

)

Goodwill at March 31, 2022

 

$

1,204,490

 

 

$

290,976

 

 

$

48,047

 

 

$

691,686

 

 

$

2,235,199

 

  

(1)

Reflects the impact of measurement period adjustments associated with the acquisition of RCA.

 

Intangible Assets, Net

The following table presents the amount of amortization expense related to intangible assets by category for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Amortization expense of acquired intangible assets

 

$

15,898

 

 

$

8,368

 

Amortization expense of internally developed capitalized software

 

 

5,822

 

 

 

6,700

 

Total amortization of intangible assets expense

 

$

21,720

 

 

$

15,068

 

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

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Gross intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

532,500

 

 

$

532,400

 

Proprietary data

 

 

220,700

 

 

 

220,639

 

Acquired technology and software

 

 

209,220

 

 

 

209,220

 

Trademarks

 

 

208,190

 

 

 

208,190

 

Internally developed capitalized software

 

 

120,264

 

 

 

106,181

 

Subtotal

 

 

1,290,874

 

 

 

1,276,630

 

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

(7,503

)

 

 

(5,782

)

Total gross intangible assets

 

$

1,283,371

 

 

$

1,270,848

 

Accumulated amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

(285,519

)

 

$

(277,865

)

Proprietary data

 

 

(27,498

)

 

 

(22,678

)

Acquired technology and software

 

 

(176,747

)

 

 

(175,718

)

Trademarks

 

 

(154,862

)

 

 

(152,468

)

Internally developed capitalized software

 

 

(55,204

)

 

 

(49,394

)

Subtotal

 

 

(699,830

)

 

 

(678,123

)

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

1,517

 

 

 

616

 

Total accumulated amortization

 

$

(698,313

)

 

$

(677,507

)

Net intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$

246,981

 

 

$

254,535

 

Proprietary data

 

 

193,202

 

 

 

197,961

 

Acquired technology and software

 

 

32,473

 

 

 

33,502

 

Trademarks

 

 

53,328

 

 

 

55,722

 

Internally developed capitalized software

 

 

65,060

 

 

 

56,787

 

Subtotal

 

 

591,044

 

 

 

598,507

 

Foreign exchange translation adjustment

 

 

(5,986

)

 

 

(5,166

)

Total net intangible assets

 

$

585,058

 

 

$

593,341

 

 

13


 

 

The following table presents the estimated amortization expense for the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2022 and succeeding years:

 

Years Ending December 31,

 

Amortization

Expense

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Remainder of 2022

 

$

68,275

 

2023

 

 

85,742

 

2024

 

 

78,586

 

2025

 

 

53,876

 

2026

 

 

36,664

 

Thereafter

 

 

261,915

 

Total

 

$

585,058

 

 

 

8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Senior Unsecured Notes. The Company had an aggregate of $4,200.0 million in senior unsecured notes (collectively, the “Senior Notes”) outstanding at March 31, 2022, as 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, 2022

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

March 31, 2022

 

 

December 31, 2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2029

 

November 15, 2029

 

 

1,000,000

 

 

 

991,728

 

 

 

991,455

 

 

 

973,030

 

 

 

1,047,950

 

3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2030

 

September 1, 2030

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

894,428

 

 

 

894,263

 

 

 

845,955

 

 

 

924,777

 

3.875% senior unsecured notes due 2031

 

February 15, 2031

 

 

1,000,000

 

 

 

990,247

 

 

 

989,973

 

 

 

950,380

 

 

 

1,046,620

 

3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2031

 

November 1, 2031

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

593,702

 

 

 

593,538

 

 

 

565,200

 

 

 

625,536

 

3.250% senior unsecured notes due 2033

 

August 15, 2033

 

 

700,000

 

 

 

692,360

 

 

 

692,193

 

 

 

630,791

 

 

 

710,906

 

Total long-term debt

 

 

 

$

4,200,000

 

 

$

4,162,465

 

 

$

4,161,422

 

 

$

3,965,356

 

 

$

4,355,789

 

 

Interest payments attributable to the Senior Notes are due as presented in the following table:

 

 

 

First semi-annual interest

payment date

 

Second semi-annual

interest payment date

Senior Notes

 

 

 

 

4.000% senior unsecured notes due 2029

 

May 15

 

November 15

3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2030

 

March 1

 

September 1

3.875% senior unsecured notes due 2031

 

June 1

 

December 1

3.625% senior unsecured notes due 2031

 

May 1

 

November 1

3.250% senior unsecured notes due 2033 (1)

 

February 15

 

August 15

 

(1)The first payment occurred on February 15, 2022.

 

The fair market value of the Company’s debt obligations represent Level 2 valuations. 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.

 

Revolver. Since November 20, 2014, the Company has maintained a revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”). On February 16, 2022, the Company entered into Amendment No. 5 (the “Fifth Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Fifth Amendment, among other things, extended the term of the Revolving Credit Agreement to February 2027 and replaced the London Interbank Offered Rate with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as the basis for the variable rates of interest. At March 31, 2022, the Revolving Credit Agreement was undrawn.

In connection with the closings of offerings of the Senior Notes, entry into the Revolving Credit Agreement and the subsequent 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, 2022, $40.1 million of the deferred financing fees and premium remain unamortized, $0.5 million of which is included in “Prepaid and other assets,” $2.0 million of which is included in “Other non-current assets” and $37.6 million of which is included in “Long-term debt” on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition.

 

14


 

 

 

9. LEASES

The Company recognized $7.7 million and $7.6 million of operating lease expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, 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, 2022 and 2021.

Maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of March 31, 2022 are as follows:

 

Maturity of Lease Liabilities

 

Operating

 

(in thousands)

 

Leases

 

Remainder of 2022

 

$

20,368

 

2023

 

 

28,273

 

2024

 

 

22,827

 

2025

 

 

21,628

 

2026

 

 

19,864

 

Thereafter

 

 

73,499

 

Total lease payments

 

$

186,459

 

Less: Interest

 

 

(23,538

)

Present value of lease liabilities

 

$

162,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

$

23,026

 

Long-term operating lease liabilities

 

$

139,895

 

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate for the Company’s operating leases are as follows:

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

Lease Term and Discount Rate

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)

 

 

8.10

 

 

 

8.16

 

Weighted-average discount rate

 

 

3.14

%

 

 

3.09

%

 

Other information related to the Company’s operating leases are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Other Information

 

March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

Operating cash flows used for operating leases

 

$

7,152

 

 

$

7,632

 

Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new

  operating lease liabilities

 

$

-

 

 

$

4,144

 

 

10. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Return of capital

On October 29, 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $1,000.0 million worth of shares of MSCI’s common stock in addition to the $804.5 million of authorization then remaining under a previously existing share repurchase program (the “2020 Repurchase Program”) for a total of $1,804.5 million of stock repurchase authorization.

Share repurchases made pursuant to the 2020 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, 2022, there was $816.5 million of available authorization remaining under the 2020 Repurchase Program.

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, 2022

 

$

515.74

 

 

 

1,498

 

 

$

772,657

 

March 31, 2021

 

$

407.70

 

 

 

330

 

 

$

134,340

 

15


 

 

 

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, 2022

 

$

1.04

 

 

$

87,280

 

 

$

87,846

 

 

$

(566

)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 

$

0.78

 

 

$

65,947

 

 

$

66,153

 

 

$

(206

)

 

Common Stock.

The following table presents activity related to shares of common stock issued and repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2022:

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Treasury

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

Issued

 

 

Stock

 

 

Outstanding

 

Balance at December 31, 2021

 

 

133,162,178

 

 

 

(50,722,729

)

 

 

82,439,449

 

Dividend payable/paid

 

 

82

 

 

 

 

 

 

82

 

Common stock issued

 

 

417,508

 

 

 

 

 

 

417,508

 

Shares withheld for tax withholding

 

 

 

 

 

(190,766

)

 

 

(190,766

)

Shares repurchased under stock repurchase programs

 

 

 

 

 

(1,498,143

)

 

 

(1,498,143

)

Shares issued to directors

 

 

41

 

 

 

(41

)

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2022

 

 

133,579,809

 

 

 

(52,411,679

)

 

 

81,168,130

 

 

 

11. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s provision for income taxes was $20.5 million and $19.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These amounts reflect effective tax rates of 8.2% and 8.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The effective tax rate of 8.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period and was impacted by certain favorable discrete items totaling $28.1 million, primarily related to $28.3 million of excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation vested during the period.

The effective tax rate of 8.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period and was impacted by certain favorable discrete items totaling $22.3 million, primarily related to $20.4 million of excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation vested during the period.

The Company is under or open to 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 the United States in which the Company has significant operations, such as New York and California. The tax years currently under or open to examination vary by jurisdiction but include years ranging from 2008 onwards.

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. Based on the current status of income tax audits, the Company believes it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized benefits may decrease by approximately $28.6 million in the next twelve months as a result of the resolution of tax examinations.

 

 

12. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has five operating segments: Index, Analytics, ESG and Climate, Real Estate and The Burgiss Group, LLC (“Burgiss”), which are presented as the following four reportable segments: Index, Analytics, ESG and Climate and All Other – Private Assets.

 

The Index operating segment offers equity and fixed income indexes. The indexes are used in many areas of the investment process, including indexed product creation (e.g., Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products and over-the-counter derivatives), performance benchmarking, portfolio construction and rebalancing, and asset allocation.

16


 

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 tools for analyzing market, credit, liquidity, counterparty and climate risk across all major asset classes, spanning short-, medium- and long-term time horizons. Clients access Analytics tools and content through MSCI’s 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.

The ESG and Climate operating segment offers products and services that help institutional investors understand how ESG and climate considerations can impact the long-term risk and return of their portfolio and individual security-level investments. In addition, the ESG and Climate operating segment provides data, ratings, research and tools to help investors navigate increasing regulation, meet new client demands and better integrate ESG and climate elements into their investment processes.

The Real Estate operating segment offers real estate market and transaction data, benchmarks, return-analytics, climate assessments and market insights for funds, investors, managers and other real estate market participants. In addition, Real Estate performance and risk analytics range from enterprise-wide to property-specific analysis. The Real Estate operating segment also provides business intelligence products 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.

 

The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“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 certain non-recurring acquisition-related integration and transaction costs, 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 following table presents operating revenues by reportable segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

$

330,759

 

 

$

292,491

 

Analytics

 

 

139,797

 

 

 

134,017

 

ESG and Climate

 

 

52,029

 

 

 

34,750

 

All Other - Private Assets

 

 

37,360

 

 

 

17,165

 

Total

 

$

559,945

 

 

$

478,423

 

 

17


 

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Index Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

245,875

 

 

$

219,879

 

Analytics Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

50,889

 

 

 

45,731

 

ESG and Climate Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

12,092

 

 

 

5,045

 

All Other - Private Assets Adjusted

  EBITDA

 

 

9,688

 

 

 

5,931

 

Total operating segment profitability

 

 

318,544

 

 

 

276,586

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

Acquisition-related integration and

  transaction costs (1)

 

 

1,312

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

288,978

 

 

 

254,375

 

Other expense (income), net

 

 

40,035

 

 

 

38,347

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

20,520

 

 

 

19,209

 

Net income

 

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

 

(1)

Incremental and non-recurring costs attributable to acquisitions directly related to the execution of the transaction and integration of the acquired business that have occurred no later than 12 months after the close of the transaction.

 

Operating revenues by geography are based on the shipping address of the ultimate customer utilizing the product. The following table presents operating revenues by geographic area for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Operating revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

233,356

 

 

$

196,689

 

Other

 

 

22,467

 

 

 

20,173

 

Total Americas

 

 

255,823

 

 

 

216,862

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

86,986

 

 

 

79,081

 

Other

 

 

131,573

 

 

 

106,194

 

Total EMEA

 

 

218,559

 

 

 

185,275

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asia & Australia:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japan

 

 

23,190

 

 

 

21,642

 

Other

 

 

62,373

 

 

 

54,644

 

Total Asia & Australia

 

 

85,563

 

 

 

76,286

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

559,945

 

 

$

478,423

 

18


 

 

 

Long-lived assets consist of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, right of use assets and internally developed capitalized software, 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,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Long-lived assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Americas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

170,598

 

 

$

167,870

 

Other

 

 

13,299

 

 

 

13,480

 

Total Americas

 

 

183,897

 

 

 

181,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMEA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom

 

 

19,981

 

 

 

19,563

 

Other

 

 

29,434

 

 

 

34,240

 

Total EMEA

 

 

49,415

 

 

 

53,803

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asia & Australia:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japan

 

 

1,038

 

 

 

1,150

 

Other

 

 

29,590

 

 

 

31,873

 

Total Asia & Australia

 

 

30,628

 

 

 

33,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

263,940

 

 

$

268,176

 

 

 

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Subsequent to the three months ended March 31, 2022 and through trade date of April 25, 2022, the Company repurchased an additional 0.05 million shares of common stock at an average price of $486.59 per share for a total value of $22.1 million.

On April 25, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.04 per share for the three months ending June 30, 2022 (“second quarter 2022”). The second quarter 2022 dividend is payable on May 31, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on May 13, 2022.

 

19


 

 

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, 2021 (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 solutions for the global investment community. Our mission-critical offerings help investors address the challenges of a transforming investment landscape and power better investment decisions. Leveraging our knowledge of the global investment process and our expertise in research, data and technology, we enable our clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently and efficiently build more effective portfolios. We operate in four reportable segments as follows: Index, Analytics, ESG and Climate, and All Other – Private Assets.

Our growth strategy includes: (a) extending leadership in research-enhanced content across asset classes, (b) leading the enablement of ESG and climate investment integration, (c) enhancing distribution and content-enabling technology, (d) expanding solutions that empower client customization, (e) strengthening client relationships and growing into strategic partnerships with clients and (f) executing strategic relationships and acquisitions with complementary content and technology companies. For more information about our Company’s operations, see “Item 1: Business” in our Form 10-K.

As of March 31, 2022, we served over 6,4001 clients in more than 90 countries.

Our principal business model is generally to license annual, recurring subscriptions for the majority of our Index, Analytics and ESG and Climate products and services for a fee due in advance of the service period. Real Estate products are also licensed annually through subscriptions, which are generally recurring, for a fee which is paid in advance when products are generally delivered ratably over the subscription period or in arrears after the product is delivered. 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.

In evaluating our financial performance, we focus on revenue and profit growth, including results accounted for under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) as well as non-GAAP measures, for the Company as a whole and by operating segment.

We present revenues disaggregated by types and by segments, which represent our major product lines. We also review expenses by activity, which provides more transparency into how resources are being deployed. In addition, we utilize operating metrics including Run Rate, subscription sales and Retention Rate to manage and assess performance and to provide deeper insights into the recurring portion of our business.

In the discussion that follows, we provide certain variances excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations and acquisitions. 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 three-fifths of the AUM is 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.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, our largest client organization by revenue, BlackRock, accounted for 10.9% of our total revenues, with 95.5% of the revenue from BlackRock coming from fees based on the assets in BlackRock’s ETFs that are based on our indexes.

 

The discussion of our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 are presented below. The results of operations for interim periods may not be indicative of future results.

 

 

 

1 

Represents the aggregate of all related clients under their respective parent entity.

20


 

 

Results of Operations

 

 Operating Revenues

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

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

399,760

 

 

$

337,732

 

 

 

18.4

%

 

Asset-based fees

 

145,053

 

 

 

126,706

 

 

 

14.5

%

 

Non-recurring

 

15,132

 

 

 

13,985

 

 

 

8.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total operating revenues

$

559,945

 

 

$

478,423

 

 

 

17.0

%

 

 

Total operating revenues increased 17.0%. Adjusting for the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, total operating revenues would have increased 13.7%.

Operating revenues from recurring subscriptions increased 18.4%, primarily driven by strong growth in All Other – Private Assets products, which increased $20.1 million, or 119.6%, mainly reflecting the acquisition of RCA, strong growth in Index products, which increased $19.4 million, or 12.5%, and strong growth in ESG and Climate products, which increased $16.4 million, or 48.1%. Adjusting for the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, operating revenues from recurring subscriptions would have increased 13.6%.

Operating revenues from asset-based fees increased 14.5%, driven by growth in operating revenues from all index-linked investment product categories. Operating revenues from ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes increased by 10.9%, primarily driven by an increase in average AUM, partially offset by a decrease in average basis point fees. The increase in operating revenues from asset-based fees was also driven by a 23.9% increase in non-ETF indexed funds linked to MSCI indexes, primarily driven by an increase in average AUM.

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

 

 

 

Period Ended

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

(in billions)

 

March

31,

 

 

June

30,

 

 

September

30,

 

 

December

31,

 

 

March

31,

 

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

 

$

1,209.6

 

 

$

1,336.2

 

 

$

1,336.6

 

 

$

1,451.6

 

 

$

1,389.3

 

Sequential Change in Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market Appreciation/(Depreciation)

 

$

43.2

 

 

$

73.7

 

 

$

(30.7

)

 

$

56.5

 

 

$

(89.7

)

Cash Inflows

 

 

62.8

 

 

 

52.9

 

 

 

31.1

 

 

 

58.5

 

 

 

27.4

 

Total Change

 

$

106.0

 

 

$

126.6

 

 

$

0.4

 

 

$

115.0

 

 

$

(62.3

)

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

 

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

(in billions)

 

March

 

 

June

 

 

September

 

 

December

 

 

March

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarterly average

 

$

1,169.2

 

 

$

1,292.4

 

 

$

1,361.9

 

 

$

1,414.8

 

 

$

1,392.5

 

Year-to-date average

 

$

1,169.2

 

 

$

1,230.8

 

 

$

1,274.5

 

 

$

1,309.6

 

 

$

1,392.5

 

 

(1)

The historical values of the AUM in ETFs linked to our equity indexes as of the last day of the month and the monthly average balance can be found under the link “AUM in ETFs Linked to MSCI Equity 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 ETFs also includes AUM in Exchange Traded Notes, the value of which is less than 1.0% of the AUM amounts presented.

(2)

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

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the average value of AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes was up $223.3 billion, or 19.1%, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.

21


 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

174,498

 

 

$

155,117

 

 

 

12.5

%

 

Asset-based fees

 

145,053

 

 

 

126,706

 

 

 

14.5

%

 

Non-recurring

 

11,208

 

 

 

10,668

 

 

 

5.1

%

 

Index total

 

330,759

 

 

 

292,491

 

 

 

13.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analytics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

137,799

 

 

 

131,672

 

 

 

4.7

%

 

Non-recurring

 

1,998

 

 

 

2,345

 

 

 

(14.8

%)

 

Analytics total

 

139,797

 

 

 

134,017

 

 

 

4.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESG and Climate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

50,572

 

 

 

34,140

 

 

 

48.1

%

 

Non-recurring

 

1,457

 

 

 

610

 

 

 

138.9

%

 

ESG and Climate total

 

52,029

 

 

 

34,750

 

 

 

49.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other - Private Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

 

36,891

 

 

 

16,803

 

 

 

119.6

%

 

Non-recurring

 

469

 

 

 

362

 

 

 

29.6

%

 

All Other - Private Assets total

 

37,360

 

 

 

17,165

 

 

 

117.7

%

 

Total operating revenues

$

559,945

 

 

$

478,423

 

 

 

17.0

%

 

 

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.

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. Cost of revenues, selling and marketing, R&D and G&A all include both compensation as well as non-compensation related expenses.

22


 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

$

102,771

 

 

$

85,780

 

 

 

19.8

%

Selling and marketing

 

66,053

 

 

 

56,467

 

 

 

17.0

%

Research and development

 

28,322

 

 

 

24,862

 

 

 

13.9

%

General and administrative

 

45,567

 

 

 

34,728

 

 

 

31.2

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

 

 

44.1

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

 

 

(8.5

%)

Total operating expenses

$

270,967

 

 

$

224,048

 

 

 

20.9

%

 

Total operating expenses increased 20.9%. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, the increase would have been 23.0%.

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, cloud service, 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 increased 19.8%, reflecting increases across all reportable segments. The change was driven by increases in compensation and benefits costs, primarily relating to higher wages and salaries and benefits costs, as well as higher non-compensation costs, primarily reflecting higher information technology costs, professional fees 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 departments associated with acquiring new business, including product management, research, technology and sales operations.

Selling and marketing expenses increased 17.0%, reflecting increases across all reportable segments. The change was primarily driven by increases in compensation and benefits costs, including higher wages and salaries, incentive compensation and benefits costs, partially offset by lower severance costs.

Research and Development

R&D expenses consist of costs to develop new or enhance existing products and the costs to develop new or enhanced technologies 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 directly associated with these activities.

R&D expenses increased 13.9%, primarily reflecting higher investment in the Index, All Other – Private Assets and ESG and Climate reportable segments, partially offset by lower expenses in the Analytics reportable segment related to higher capitalization of internal use software. The change was driven by increases in compensation and benefits costs, primarily relating to higher incentive compensation and benefits costs, as well as higher non-compensation costs, reflecting higher information technology costs, partially offset by lower professional fees.

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 31.2%, reflecting increases across all reportable segments. The change was driven by increases in compensation and benefits costs, primarily relating to higher incentive compensation, wages and salaries and benefits costs. The

23


 

change was also driven by higher non-compensation costs, primarily driven by non-recurring transaction and integration costs related to the acquisition of RCA, as well as higher professional fees, insurance costs and information technology costs.

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,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Compensation and benefits

$

179,838

 

 

$

151,517

 

 

 

18.7

%

Non-compensation expenses

 

62,875

 

 

 

50,320

 

 

 

25.0

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

 

 

44.1

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

 

 

(8.5

%)

Total operating expenses

$

270,967

 

 

$

224,048

 

 

 

20.9

%

 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation and benefits costs increased 18.7%, primarily driven by headcount growth. We had 4,361 employees as of March 31, 2022, compared to 3,728 employees as of March 31, 2021, reflecting a 17.0% 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 benefits costs. As of March 31, 2022, 63.8% of our employees were located in emerging market centers compared to 64.9% as of March 31, 2021.

A significant portion of the incentive compensation component of operating expenses is based on the achievement of a number of financial and operating metrics. In a scenario where operating revenue growth and profitability moderate, incentive compensation would be expected to decrease accordingly.

Non-Compensation Expenses

Non-compensation expenses increased 25.0%, primarily driven by higher information technology costs, professional fees, non-recurring transaction and integration costs related to the acquisition of RCA and market data costs.

Fixed costs constitute a significant portion of the non-compensation component of operating expenses. The discretionary non-compensation component of operating expenses could, however, be reduced in the near-term in a scenario where operating revenue growth moderates.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of intangible assets expense relates to definite-lived intangible assets arising from past acquisitions and capitalization of internally developed software projects recognized over their estimated useful lives. Amortization of intangible assets expense increased 44.1%, primarily driven by additional amortization recognized on acquired intangible assets following the acquisition of RCA.

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 computer and related equipment, leasehold improvements, software and furniture and fixtures over the estimated useful life of the assets. Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements decreased 8.5%. The decrease was primarily the result of lower amortization on software and lower depreciation on computer and related equipment.

24


 

Other Expense (Income), Net

The following table shows our other expense (income), net for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

$

(298

)

 

$

(386

)

 

 

22.8

%

Interest expense

 

40,714

 

 

 

37,584

 

 

 

8.3

%

Other expense (income)

 

(381

)

 

 

1,149

 

 

 

(133.2

%)

Total other expense (income), net

$

40,035

 

 

$

38,347

 

 

 

4.4

%

 

Other expense (income), net increased 4.4%. The increase in net expenses was primarily driven by higher interest expense associated with higher average outstanding debt balances, partially offset by favorable foreign currency exchange rate gains.

Income Taxes

The following table shows our income tax provision and effective tax rate for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

20,520

 

 

 

19,209

 

 

 

6.8

%

ETR

 

8.2

%

 

 

8.9

%

 

 

(7.3

%)

The effective tax rate of 8.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2022 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period and was impacted by certain favorable discrete items totaling $28.1 million, primarily related to $28.3 million of excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation vested during the period.

The effective tax rate of 8.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 reflects the Company’s estimate of the effective tax rate for the period and was impacted by certain favorable discrete items totaling $22.3 million, primarily related to $20.4 million of excess tax benefits recognized on share-based compensation vested during the period.

Net Income

The following table shows our net income for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

 

 

16.1

%

As a result of the factors described above, net income increased 16.1%.

Weighted Average Shares and Common Shares Outstanding

The following table shows our weighted average shares outstanding for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

81,591

 

 

 

82,640

 

 

 

(1.3

%)

Diluted

 

82,286

 

 

 

83,493

 

 

 

(1.4

%)

25


 

 

 

The following table shows our common shares outstanding for the periods indicated:

 

 

As of

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares outstanding

 

81,168

 

 

 

82,439

 

 

 

(1.5

%)

The decrease in weighted average shares and common shares outstanding primarily reflects the impact of share repurchases made pursuant to the stock repurchase program.

 

 

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 certain non-recurring acquisition-related integration and transaction costs.

“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 certain non-recurring acquisition-related integration and transaction costs.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA expenses are believed to be meaningful measures for management to assess 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 ongoing 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 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 the non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA measure for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues

$

559,945

 

 

$

478,423

 

 

 

17.0

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

241,401

 

 

 

201,837

 

 

 

19.6

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

318,544

 

 

$

276,586

 

 

 

15.2

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

56.9

%

 

 

57.8

%

 

 

 

 

Operating margin %

 

51.6

%

 

 

53.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA margin reflects a higher rate of growth in Adjusted EBITDA expenses as compared to the rate of growth of operating revenues, driven by the factors previously described.

26


 

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,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Index Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

245,875

 

 

$

219,879

 

 

 

11.8

%

Analytics Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

50,889

 

 

 

45,731

 

 

 

11.3

%

ESG and Climate Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

12,092

 

 

 

5,045

 

 

 

139.7

%

All Other - Private Assets Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

9,688

 

 

 

5,931

 

 

 

63.3

%

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

318,544

 

 

 

276,586

 

 

 

15.2

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

 

 

44.1

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

 

 

(8.5

%)

Acquisition-related integration and

  transaction costs (1)

 

 

1,312

 

 

 

 

 

n/a

 

Operating income

 

 

288,978

 

 

 

254,375

 

 

 

13.6

%

Other expense (income), net

 

 

40,035

 

 

 

38,347

 

 

 

4.4

%

Provision for income taxes

 

 

20,520

 

 

 

19,209

 

 

 

6.8

%

Net income

 

$

228,423

 

 

$

196,819

 

 

 

16.1

%

 

(1)

Incremental and non-recurring costs attributable to acquisitions directly related to the execution of the transaction and integration of the acquired business that have occurred no later than 12 months after the close of the transaction.

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Index Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

$

84,884

 

 

$

72,612

 

 

 

16.9

%

Analytics Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

 

88,908

 

 

 

88,286

 

 

 

0.7

%

ESG and Climate Adjusted EBITDA

  expenses

 

 

39,937

 

 

 

29,705

 

 

 

34.4

%

All Other - Private Assets Adjusted EBITDA

  expenses

 

 

27,672

 

 

 

11,234

 

 

 

146.3

%

Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

 

241,401

 

 

 

201,837

 

 

 

19.6

%

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

21,720

 

 

 

15,068

 

 

 

44.1

%

Depreciation and amortization of property,

   equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

6,534

 

 

 

7,143

 

 

 

(8.5

%)

Acquisition-related integration and

  transaction costs (1)

 

 

1,312

 

 

 

 

 

n/a

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

270,967

 

 

$

224,048

 

 

 

20.9

%

 

(1)

Incremental and non-recurring costs attributable to acquisitions directly related to the execution of the transaction and integration of the acquired business that have occurred no later than 12 months after the close of the transaction.

 

The discussion of the segment results is presented below.

 

 

27


 

 

Segment Results

Index Segment

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

174,498

 

 

$

155,117

 

 

 

12.5

%

Asset-based fees

 

145,053

 

 

 

126,706

 

 

 

14.5

%

Non-recurring

 

11,208

 

 

 

10,668

 

 

 

5.1

%

Operating revenues total

 

330,759

 

 

 

292,491

 

 

 

13.1

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

84,884

 

 

 

72,612

 

 

 

16.9

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

245,875

 

 

$

219,879

 

 

 

11.8

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

74.3

%

 

 

75.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

Index operating revenues increased 13.1%, primarily driven by growth from recurring subscriptions and asset-based fees. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on Index operating revenues was negligible.

 

Operating revenues from recurring subscriptions increased 12.5%, primarily driven by growth from market cap-weighted index products and strong growth from factor, ESG and climate index products.

Operating revenues from asset-based fees increased 14.5%, driven by growth in operating revenues from all index-linked investment product categories. Operating revenues from ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes increased by 10.9%, primarily driven by an increase in average AUM, partially offset by a decrease in average basis point fees. The increase in operating revenues from asset-based fees was also driven by a 23.9% increase in non-ETF indexed funds linked to MSCI indexes, primarily driven by an increase in average AUM.

Index segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 16.9%, reflecting higher compensation expenses to support growth across all expense activity categories. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Index segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased by 18.9%.

Analytics Segment

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

137,799

 

 

$

131,672

 

 

 

4.7

%

Non-recurring

 

1,998

 

 

 

2,345

 

 

 

(14.8

%)

Operating revenues total

 

139,797

 

 

 

134,017

 

 

 

4.3

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

88,908

 

 

 

88,286

 

 

 

0.7

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

50,889

 

 

$

45,731

 

 

 

11.3

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

36.4

%

 

 

34.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

Analytics operating revenues increased 4.3%, primarily driven by growth from recurring subscriptions related to Multi-Asset Class and Equity Analytics products. The impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on Analytics segment revenues was negligible.

Analytics segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 0.7%, reflecting higher non-compensation expenses primarily driven by the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on expenses and higher information technology costs. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Analytics segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased 2.2%.

28


 

ESG and Climate Segment

The following table presents the results for the ESG and Climate segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

50,572

 

 

$

34,140

 

 

 

48.1

%

Non-recurring

 

1,457

 

 

 

610

 

 

 

138.9

%

Operating revenues total

 

52,029

 

 

 

34,750

 

 

 

49.7

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

39,937

 

 

 

29,705

 

 

 

34.4

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

12,092

 

 

$

5,045

 

 

 

139.7

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

23.2

%

 

 

14.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

ESG and Climate operating revenues increased 49.7%, primarily driven by strong growth from recurring subscriptions related to Ratings, Climate, and Screening products. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, ESG and Climate operating revenues would have increased 52.5%.

ESG and Climate segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 34.4%, reflecting higher compensation expenses to support growth, reflected across all expense activity categories. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, ESG and Climate segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased 37.2%.

All Other – Private Assets Segment

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

% Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Operating revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

36,891

 

 

$

16,803

 

 

 

119.6

%

Non-recurring

 

469

 

 

 

362

 

 

 

29.6

%

Operating revenues total

 

37,360

 

 

 

17,165

 

 

 

117.7

%

Adjusted EBITDA expenses

 

27,672

 

 

 

11,234

 

 

 

146.3

%

Adjusted EBITDA

$

9,688

 

 

$

5,931

 

 

 

63.3

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin %

 

25.9

%

 

 

34.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

All Other – Private Assets operating revenues increased 117.7%, primarily driven by revenues attributable to the acquisition of RCA and increased recurring subscriptions revenues related to Global Intel and Real Estate Climate Value-at-Risk products. Adjusting for both the impact of the acquisition and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, All Other – Private Assets operating revenues would have increased 11.6%. Adjusting for the impact of the acquisition and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations individually, All Other – Private Assets operating revenues would have increased 6.0% and 125.5%, respectively.

All Other – Private Assets segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses increased 146.3%, primarily driven by the acquisition of RCA. All Other - Private Assets segment Adjusted EBITDA expenses would have increased 9.9% when excluding the impact of acquisitions and increased 153.9% when excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

 

 

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, or reach the end of the committed subscription period, 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

29


 

termination, non-renewal or an indication the client does not intend to continue their subscription 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 or fee waiver 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 or discounts;

 

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.

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

 

 

As of

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

%

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Index:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions

$

711,113

 

 

$

634,565

 

 

 

12.1

%

Asset-based fees

 

576,234

 

 

 

503,207

 

 

 

14.5

%

Index total

 

1,287,347

 

 

 

1,137,772

 

 

 

13.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analytics

 

588,447

 

 

 

556,997

 

 

 

5.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESG and Climate

 

216,197

 

 

 

147,334

 

 

 

46.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Other - Private Assets

 

137,532

 

 

 

56,900

 

 

 

141.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Run Rate

$

2,229,523

 

 

$

1,899,003

 

 

 

17.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurring subscriptions total

$

1,653,289

 

 

$

1,395,796

 

 

 

18.4

%

Asset-based fees

 

576,234

 

 

 

503,207

 

 

 

14.5

%

Total Run Rate

$

2,229,523

 

 

$

1,899,003

 

 

 

17.4

%

 

Total Run Rate increased 17.4%, driven by an 18.4% increase from recurring subscriptions and 14.5% increase from asset-based fees. Adjusting for the impact of the acquisition and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, recurring subscriptions Run Rate would have increased 13.3% and 18.1%, respectively.

30


 

Run Rate from Index recurring subscriptions increased 12.1%, primarily driven by growth from market cap-weighted index products and strong growth from factor, ESG and climate index products, and reflected growth across all regions and client segments.

Run Rate from Index asset-based fees increased 14.5%, primarily driven by higher AUM in non-ETF indexed funds linked to MSCI indexes and higher AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI equity indexes, partially offset by a 0.1 average basis point fee decrease in ETFs.

Run Rate from Analytics products increased 5.6%, primarily driven by growth in both Multi-Asset Class and Equity Analytics products. Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, Analytics Run Rate would have increased 6.7%.

Run Rate from ESG and Climate products increased 46.7%, driven by strong growth in Ratings, Climate and Screening products.  Adjusting for the impact of foreign currency, ESG and Climate Run Rate would have increased 49.6%.

Run Rate from All Other - Private Assets increased 141.7%, primarily driven by the acquisition of RCA and growth in the Global Intel products, as well as strong growth in Real Estate Climate Value-at-Risk products.  Adjusting for both the impact of the acquisition and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, All Other - Private Assets Run Rate would have increased 7.7%. Adjusting for the impact of RCA and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations individually, All Other - Private Assets Run Rate would have increased 4.6% and 147.0%, respectively.

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.  

31


 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

March 31,

 

 

%

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

Change

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

New recurring subscription sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

$

22,417

 

 

$

20,856

 

 

 

7.5

%

Analytics

 

14,069

 

 

 

12,210

 

 

 

15.2

%

ESG and Climate

 

19,142

 

 

 

11,640

 

 

 

64.5

%

All Other - Private Assets

 

5,559

 

 

 

1,684

 

 

 

230.1

%

New recurring subscription sales total

 

61,187

 

 

 

46,390

 

 

 

31.9

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscription cancellations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

(5,920

)

 

 

(5,198

)

 

 

13.9

%

Analytics

 

(8,128

)

 

 

(5,879

)

 

 

38.3

%

ESG and Climate

 

(643

)

 

 

(1,052

)

 

 

(38.9

%)

All Other - Private Assets

 

(1,978

)

 

 

(698

)

 

 

183.4

%

Subscription cancellations total

 

(16,669

)

 

 

(12,827

)

 

 

30.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net new recurring subscription sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

16,497

 

 

 

15,658

 

 

 

5.4

%

Analytics

 

5,941

 

 

 

6,331

 

 

 

(6.2

%)

ESG and Climate

 

18,499

 

 

 

10,588

 

 

 

74.7

%

All Other - Private Assets

 

3,581

 

 

 

986

 

 

 

263.2

%

Net new recurring subscription sales total

 

44,518

 

 

 

33,563

 

 

 

32.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-recurring sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

 

13,715

 

 

 

11,205

 

 

 

22.4

%

Analytics

 

3,489

 

 

 

2,973

 

 

 

17.4

%

ESG and Climate

 

1,308

 

 

 

697

 

 

 

87.7

%

All Other - Private Assets

 

152

 

 

 

886

 

 

 

(82.8

%)

Non-recurring sales total

 

18,664

 

 

 

15,761

 

 

 

18.4

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

$

36,132

 

 

$

32,061

 

 

 

12.7

%

Analytics

 

17,558

 

 

 

15,183

 

 

 

15.6

%

ESG and Climate

 

20,450

 

 

 

12,337

 

 

 

65.8

%

All Other - Private Assets

 

5,711

 

 

 

2,570

 

 

 

122.2

%

Total gross sales

$

79,851

 

 

$

62,151

 

 

 

28.5

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Index

$

30,212

 

 

$

26,863

 

 

 

12.5

%

Analytics

 

9,430

 

 

 

9,304

 

 

 

1.4

%

ESG and Climate

 

19,807

 

 

 

11,285

 

 

 

75.5

%

All Other - Private Assets

 

3,733

 

 

 

1,872

 

 

 

99.4

%

Total net sales

$

63,182

 

 

$

49,324

 

 

 

28.1

%

 

32


 

 

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.

Retention Rate

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

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2021

 

Index

96.6%

 

 

96.6%

 

Analytics

94.4%

 

 

95.8%

 

ESG and Climate

98.7%

 

 

97.0%

 

All Other - Private Assets (1)

94.1%

 

 

95.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

95.9%

 

 

96.3%

 

 

(1)

Includes RCA’s Run Rate for the current-year period. Retention rate for All Other – Private Assets excluding the impact of RCA was 94.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

Retention Rate is an important metric because subscription cancellations decrease our Run Rate and ultimately our future 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 or discontinue the subscription 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 and Climate operating 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 operating 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-sell 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.

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. There have been no significant changes in our accounting policies since the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 or critical accounting estimates applied in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

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 make 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.

33


 

Senior Notes and Credit Agreement

We have an aggregate of $4,200.0 million in Senior Notes outstanding and a $500.0 million undrawn Revolving Credit Agreement with a syndicate of banks as of March 31, 2022. See Note 8, “Commitments and Contingencies,” of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) included herein for additional information on the 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/or 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, and bankruptcy and insolvency events, and, in the case of the Revolving Credit Agreement, invalidity or impairment of loan documentation, change of control and customary ERISA defaults in addition to the foregoing. 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 (or 4.50:1.00 for two fiscal quarters following a material acquisition) 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, 2022, our Consolidated Leverage Ratio was 3.05:1.00 and our Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio was 8.11:1.00. As of March 31, 2022, there were no amounts drawn and outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement.

34


 

Our non-guarantor subsidiaries under the Senior Notes and the Revolving Credit Agreement 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 $1,292.6 million, or 60.8%, of our total revenue for the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2022, approximately $474.7 million, or 42.9%, of our consolidated operating income for the trailing 12 months ended March 31, 2022, and approximately $1,118.1 million, or 23.8%, of our consolidated total assets (excluding intercompany assets) and $797.0 million, or 14.3%, of our consolidated total liabilities, in each case as of March 31, 2022.

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, 2022

 

$

515.74

 

 

 

1,498

 

 

$

772,657

 

March 31, 2021

 

$

407.70

 

 

 

330

 

 

$

134,340

 

 

As of March 31, 2022, there was $816.5 million of available authorization remaining under the 2020 Repurchase Program.

Cash Dividend

On April 25, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.04 per share for the three months ending June 30, 2022. The second quarter 2022 dividend is payable on May 31, 2022 to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on May 13, 2022.

 

Cash Flows

 The following table presents the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as of the dates indicated:

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

679,315

 

 

$

1,421,449

 

 

We typically seek to maintain minimum cash balances globally of approximately $200.0 million to $250.0 million for general operating purposes. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, $478.8 million and $542.2 million, respectively, of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were held by foreign subsidiaries. Repatriation of some foreign cash may be subject to certain withholding taxes in local jurisdictions and other distribution restrictions. We believe 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 revolving 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.

 

35


 

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2021

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

244,184

 

 

$

215,457

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(15,310

)

 

 

(10,360

)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

 

(966,117

)

 

 

245,542

 

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

 

(4,891

)

 

 

(4,013

)

Net (decrease) increase in cash

 

$

(742,134

)

 

$

446,626

 

 

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. The year-over-year change for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily driven by higher cash collections from customers, partially offset by higher payments for cash expenses, mainly reflecting higher cash compensation expenses, information technology costs, professional fees and market data costs.

Our primary uses of cash from operating activities are for the payment of cash compensation expenses, interest expenses, income taxes, technology costs, professional fees, market data costs and office rent. 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 Investing Activities

The year-over-year change for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily driven by higher capitalized software development costs.

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

The year-over-year change for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was primarily driven by the impact of higher share repurchases, the absence of proceeds from senior notes offerings and higher dividend payment amounts.

 

 

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.

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, 2022 and 2021, 16.2% and 15.0%, respectively, of our revenues are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk and primarily included clients billed in foreign currency as well as U.S. dollar exposures on non-U.S. dollar foreign operating entities. Of the 16.2% of non-U.S. dollar exposure for the three months ended March 31, 2022, 40.2% was in Euros, 28.3% was in British pounds sterling and 19.8% was in Japanese yen. Of the 15.0% of non-U.S. dollar exposure for the three months ended March 31, 2021, 40.9% was in Euros, 24.8% was in British pounds sterling and 24.7% was in Japanese yen.

Revenues from asset-based fees represented 25.9% and 26.5% of operating revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. While a substantial portion of our asset-based fees are invoiced in U.S. dollars, the fees are based on the assets in investment products, of which approximately three-fifths 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 44.2% and 42.7% of our operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, were denominated in foreign currencies, the significant majority of which were denominated in British pounds sterling, Indian rupees, Euros, Hungarian forints, Swiss francs, Mexican pesos and Hong Kong dollars.

36


 

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 $1.4 million and losses of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, 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, 2022, 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, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

37


 

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

 

For a discussion of the risk factors affecting the Company, see “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

 

There have been no material changes to the significant risk factors and uncertainties known to the Company and disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 that, if they were to materialize or occur, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on MSCI’s business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows, except for the revision of certain language in the sections “Strategy and Growth Risks - Our business may be affected by changes in the global capital markets, including adverse equity market conditions, volatility in the financial markets and evolving investment trends. Such changes could decrease the use of our products and services which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations” and “Financial Risks - Our indebtedness could materially adversely affect our cash flows and financial flexibility,” as each is set out below.

 

Strategy and Growth Risks

 

Our business may be affected by changes in economic conditions and the global capital markets, including resulting from geopolitical events, adverse equity market conditions, volatility in the financial markets and evolving investment trends. Such changes could decrease the use of our products and services which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our business is impacted by economic conditions, volatility in the global capital markets and evolving investment trends (including conditions, volatility and trends that result from geopolitical events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the related global escalation of geopolitical tensions). Our clients use our products for a variety of purposes, including benchmarking, performance attribution, portfolio construction and risk management, and to support investment strategies including ESG, climate, factor, thematic, private asset and MAC investing. Volatile capital markets and other economic and market conditions and trends may impact whether, how, where and when investors choose to invest, for example between developed or emerging markets, U.S. or non-U.S. markets, as well as whether to adopt different investment strategies.

 

A portion of our revenues comes from clients who use our indexes as the basis for indexed investment products. These fees are primarily based on a client’s assets under management or trading volumes. The value of an investment product’s assets may increase or decrease in response to changes in market performance and cash inflows and outflows, which could impact our revenues.

 

Additionally, an increasing portion of our revenues comes from products and services that relate to certain investment trends, such as ESG and climate, factor, thematic, private asset and MAC investing. A decline in the equity markets or movement away from such investment trends could decrease demand for our related products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Financial Risks

Our indebtedness could materially adversely affect our cash flows and financial flexibility.

For an overview of our current outstanding indebtedness and history of our debt offerings, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Although we believe that our cash flows will be sufficient to service our outstanding indebtedness, we cannot provide assurance that we will generate and maintain cash flows sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness. Our ability to make payments on indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on our ability to generate and access cash in the future, which, in turn, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. If we are unable to pay our obligations as they mature, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. If we are unable to secure additional financing on terms favorable or acceptable to us or at all, we could also be forced to sell assets to make up for any shortfall in our payment obligations. The restrictive covenants in our debt agreements, however, limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to sell assets

38


 

and also restrict the use of proceeds from such a sale. If we cannot refinance or otherwise pay our obligations as they mature and fund our liquidity needs, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, ability to obtain financing and ability to compete in our industry could be materially adversely affected.

We may need or want to refinance our existing debt or incur additional debt from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, or for other purposes. If we do so, we may be subject to less favorable terms. The risks related to our level of indebtedness could also intensify, including by making it difficult for us to optimally capitalize and manage the cash flow for our business or placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less indebtedness.

Furthermore, the terms of our debt agreements include restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, our and our existing and future subsidiaries’ financial flexibility. If we are unable to comply with the restrictions and covenants in our debt agreements, there could be a default that, in some cases, if continuing, could result in the accelerated payment of our debt obligations or the termination of borrowing commitments on the part of the lenders under the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2014, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto, as amended, supplemented, modified or amended and restated from time to time (as amended, the “Revolving Credit Facility”).

In 2017, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), announced that the FCA will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of the LIBOR benchmark after 2021. The administrator for LIBOR announced on March 5, 2021 that it will permanently cease to publish most LIBOR settings beginning on January 1, 2022 and cease to publish the overnight, one-month, three-month, six-month and 12-month USD LIBOR settings on July 1, 2023. Accordingly, the FCA has stated that is does not intend to persuade or compel banks to submit to LIBOR after such respective dates. Until such time, however, FCA panel banks have agreed to continue to support LIBOR. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, is recommending replacing USD LIBOR with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities.

In February 2022, we amended the existing credit agreement governing the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, replace LIBOR with SOFR. After giving effect to the credit agreement amendment, any borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility are primarily based on SOFR. It is unknown whether SOFR will attain market acceptance as a replacement for LIBOR and, because SOFR differs fundamentally from LIBOR, there is no assurance that SOFR will perform in the same way as LIBOR would have performed at any time, and there is no guarantee that it is a comparable substitute for LIBOR. As a result, we cannot reasonably predict the potential effect of the establishment of alternative reference rates on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, if we were to incur any variable rate indebtedness under our Revolving Credit Facility, we would be subject to interest rate risk generally, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly. As of December 31, 2021, there were no amounts outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility.

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

There were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

The table below presents information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of the Company of its shares of common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2022.

 

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, 2022-January 31, 2022

 

 

1,155,896

 

 

$

514.48

 

 

 

1,155,656

 

 

$

994,639,000

 

February 1, 2022-February 28, 2022

 

 

444,793

 

 

$

539.40

 

 

 

255,704

 

 

$

858,867,000

 

March 1, 2022-March 31, 2022

 

 

88,261

 

 

$

487.98

 

 

 

86,783

 

 

$

816,535,000

 

Total

 

 

1,688,950

 

 

$

519.66

 

 

 

1,498,143

 

 

$

816,535,000

 

 

 

(1)  

Includes (i) shares purchased by the Company on the open market under the stock 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; and (iii) shares held in treasury under the

39


 

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

 

40


 

 

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 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-33812), filed with the SEC on January 11, 2021 and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Amendment No. 5 to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2022, among MSCI Inc., each of the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and L/C Issuer and the other lenders party thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-33812), filed with the SEC on February 18, 2022 and incorporated by reference herein)

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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

  

Inline 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

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.CAL

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.LAB

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.PRE

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

101.DEF

  

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

*

  

104

  

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

 

 

*

  

Filed herewith.

**

  

Furnished herewith.

 

 

 

 

 

41


 

 

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 26, 2022

 

 

MSCI INC.

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Andrew C. Wiechmann

 

 

Andrew C. Wiechmann

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

42