Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 2, 2012

 

 

MSCI Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33812   13-4038723

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 44th Floor, New York, NY   10005
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(212) 804-3900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 2, 2012, MSCI Inc. (the “Registrant”) released financial information with respect to its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. A copy of the press release containing this information is annexed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report.

The Registrant’s press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is also contained in Exhibit 99.1.

The information furnished under Item 2.02 of this Report, including Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

  

Description

Exhibit 99.1    Press Release of the Registrant dated February 2, 2012 containing financial information for the fiscal year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011.


SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

  MSCI Inc.
Date: February 2, 2012   By:  

/s/ Henry A. Fernandez

  Name:   Henry A. Fernandez
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman
Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

MSCI Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Results

New York – February 2, 2012 – MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading global provider of investment decision support tools, including indices, portfolio risk and performance analytics and corporate governance services, today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. For comparative purposes, selected pro forma results are also presented, as if MSCI had acquired RiskMetrics Group, Inc. (“RiskMetrics”) on December 1, 2009. In December 2010, MSCI changed its fiscal year end from November 30 to December 31, effective with the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2011.

(Note: Percentage changes are referenced to the comparable fiscal period in fiscal year 2010, unless otherwise noted.)

 

 

Operating revenues increased 6.0% to $226.1 million in fourth quarter 2011 and 35.9% to $900.9 million for fiscal year 2011. Compared to pro forma 2010, fiscal year 2011 revenues rose 10.4%.

 

 

Net income increased 47.0% to $44.5 million in fourth quarter 2011 and 88.2% to $173.5 million for fiscal year 2011. Fiscal year 2011 Net income rose 56.5% compared to pro forma fiscal year 2010.

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (defined below) grew by 4.8% to $103.6 million in fourth quarter 2011 and 36.1% to $418.7 million in fiscal year 2011. Compared to pro forma 2010, fiscal year 2011 Adjusted EBITDA grew by 17.4%. The Adjusted EBITDA margin was 45.8% in fourth quarter 2011 and 46.5% for fiscal year 2011.

 

 

Diluted EPS rose 44.0% to $0.36 in fourth quarter 2011 and 74.1% to $1.41 in fiscal year 2011.

 

 

Fourth quarter 2011 Adjusted EPS (defined below) rose 25.0% to $0.45. Fiscal year 2011 Adjusted EPS rose 37.0% to $1.85.

Henry A. Fernandez, Chairman and CEO, said, “In 2011, MSCI reported 10% growth in pro forma revenues, 17% growth in pro forma Adjusted EBITDA and 37% growth in Adjusted EPS in 2011 despite the difficult global economic environment. MSCI’s fourth quarter revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS grew by 6%, 5% and 25%, respectively, and we recorded solid gains in new recurring subscription sales.

“We continued to invest in our businesses throughout 2011, including the addition of more than 300 employees. We look forward to realizing the benefits of these investments in the coming years,” added Mr. Fernandez.

Table 1: MSCI Inc. Selected Financial Information (unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Change from     Twelve Months Ended     Change from  
     December 31,     November 30,     November 30,     December 31,     November 30,     November 30,  

In thousands, except per share data

   2011     2010     2010     2011     2010     2010  

Operating revenues

   $ 226,134      $ 213,318        6.0   $ 900,941      $ 662,901        35.9

Operating expenses

     144,501        142,598        1.3     578,943        456,778        26.7

Net income

     44,486        30,266        47.0     173,454        92,170        88.2

% Margin

     19.7     14.2       19.3     13.9  

Diluted EPS

   $ 0.36      $ 0.25        44.0   $ 1.41      $ 0.81        74.1

Adjusted EPS1

     0.45        0.36        25.0     1.85        1.35        37.0

Adjusted EBITDA2

   $ 103,648      $ 98,914        4.8   $ 418,740      $ 307,603        36.1

% Margin

     45.8     46.4       46.5     46.4  

 

1 

Per share net income before after-tax impact of amortization of intangibles, non-recurring stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, third party transaction expenses associated with the acquisition of RiskMetrics and debt repayment and refinancing expenses. See Table 15 titled “Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS to Net Income and EPS” and information about the use of non-GAAP financial information provided under “Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

2

Net Income before interest income, interest expense, other expense (income), provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, non-recurring stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, and third party transaction expenses associated with the acquisition of RiskMetrics. See Table 13 titled “Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income” and information about the use of non-GAAP financial information provided under “Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

 

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Summary of Results for Fourth Quarter 2011 compared to Fourth Quarter 2010

Operating Revenues – See Table 4

Total operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2011 (fourth quarter 2011) increased $12.8 million, or 6.0%, to $226.1 million compared to $213.3 million for the three months ended November 30, 2010 (fourth quarter 2010). Total subscription revenues rose $13.0 million, or 7.3%, to $189.8 million and total asset-based fees increased $2.7 million, or 9.6%, to $31.1 million. Non-recurring revenues declined $2.9 million to $5.3 million.

By segment, Performance and Risk revenues rose $12.5 million, or 6.8%, to $197.6 million. The Performance and Risk segment is comprised of index and ESG (defined below) products, risk management analytics, portfolio management analytics, and energy and commodity analytics. Revenues for the Governance segment rose $0.3 million, or 1.0%, to $28.6 million.

Index and ESG products: Our index and ESG products primarily consist of index subscriptions, equity index asset-based fee products and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) products. Revenues related to index and ESG products increased $9.5 million, or 10.5%, to $100.7 million. Index and ESG subscription revenue grew by $8.5 million, or 13.9%, to $69.7 million driven by double digit growth in benchmark product revenues. Revenues attributable to equity index asset-based fees rose $1.0 million, or 3.4%, to $31.1 million. The increase in asset-based fees was driven primarily by revenues from exchange traded products linked to MSCI indices.

Also included in the index and ESG revenues were $1.8 million of non-recurring revenues, which fell from $4.9 million in fourth quarter 2010, partially as a result of the absence of $1.7 million in non-recurring asset-based fees.

At the end of the fourth quarter 2011, assets under management in ETFs linked to MSCI indices were $301.6 billion, down $9.4 billion, or 3.0%, from the end of fiscal year 2010 but up $11.5 billion, or 4.0%, from the end of the third quarter 2011. ETFs linked to MSCI indices attracted net inflows of $1.0 billion in fourth quarter 2011 and $21.9 billion for all of fiscal year 2011.

Of the $301.6 billion in assets under management in ETFs linked to MSCI indices at the end of fourth quarter 2011, 39% were linked to emerging markets indices, 24% were linked to U.S. market indices, 34% were linked to other developed markets outside the U.S. and 3% were linked to other global indices.

See table 12 titled “ETF Assets Linked to MSCI Indices” for more details about assets under management in ETFs linked to MSCI indices.

Risk management analytics: Our risk management analytics products offer a consistent risk and performance assessment framework for managing and monitoring investments in a variety of asset classes and are based on our proprietary integrated fundamental multi-factor risk models, value-at-risk methodologies, performance attribution, and asset valuation models. Risk management analytics revenues were $62.0 million, up $4.1 million, or 7.0%, from fourth quarter 2010. Risk management analytics revenue growth was led by growth in revenues from the BarraOne and RiskManager product lines.

 

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Portfolio management analytics: Our portfolio management analytics products consist of analytics tools for equity and fixed income portfolio management. Revenues related to portfolio management analytics decreased by $0.9 million, or 2.8%, to $30.1 million.

Energy and commodity analytics: Our energy and commodity analytics products consist of software applications that help users value and model physical assets and derivatives across a number of market segments that include energy and commodity assets. Revenues from energy and commodity analytics products declined by $0.2 million, or 4.6%, to $4.6 million.

Governance: Our governance products consist of corporate governance products and services, including proxy research, recommendation and voting services for asset owners and asset managers as well as governance advisory and compensation services for corporations. It also includes forensic accounting research as well as class action monitoring and claims filing services to aid institutional investors in the recovery of funds from securities litigation. Governance revenues increased $0.3 million, or 1.0%, to $28.6 million in fourth quarter 2011 as a $1.2 million increase in subscription revenue more than offset a $0.9 million decline in non-recurring revenues to $2.0 million.

Operating Expenses – See Table 6

Total operating expense increased $1.9 million, or 1.3%, to $144.5 million in fourth quarter 2011 compared to fourth quarter 2010. Increased compensation and non-compensation expenses were partially offset by declines in restructuring costs, non-recurring stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization expense.

Compensation costs: Total compensation costs rose $3.6 million, or 4.3%, to $85.9 million in fourth quarter 2011. Excluding non-recurring stock-based compensation expense, total compensation costs rose $6.4 million, or 8.2%, to $84.8 million. The increase in compensation expense was driven, in part, by a 16.9% increase in MSCI’s total number of employees compared to November 2010.

Non-compensation costs excluding depreciation and amortization: Total non-compensation operating expenses excluding depreciation and amortization, and restructuring costs rose $1.6 million, or 4.5%, to $37.7 million in fourth quarter 2011. The growth was driven by increases in technology costs, marketing and travel and entertainment expenses, recruiting costs and professional fees.

Cost of services: Total cost of services expenses were flat at $69.1 million. Within costs of services, compensation expenses increased slightly to $50.6 million and non-compensation expenses declined slightly to $18.5 million.

Selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A): Total SG&A expense increased by $5.2 million, or 10.6%, to $54.5 million. Within SG&A, compensation expenses increased by $3.5 million, or 10.8%, and non-compensation expenses increased by $1.8 million, or 10.1%.

Amortization of intangibles: Amortization of intangibles expense totaled $16.3 million, down $0.4 million, or 2.6%, from fourth quarter 2010.

Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and leasehold improvements: Depreciation and amortization expense declined by $1.1 million, or 19.0%, to $4.5 million as a result of assets reaching the end of their depreciable lives.

 

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Other Expense (Income), Net

Other expense (income), net for fourth quarter 2011 was $11.5 million, a decline of $8.1 million from fourth quarter 2010. Interest expense declined by $4.2 million versus the fourth quarter of 2010 as a result of both lower interest costs and a lower total level of outstanding indebtedness. The impact of foreign exchange movements resulted in a gain of $0.2 million in fourth quarter 2011 compared with a charge of $2.3 million in fourth quarter 2010.

During the fourth quarter, MSCI repaid $37.8 million of its term loan facility.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income tax expense was $25.6 million for fourth quarter 2011, an increase of $4.8 million, or 23.2%, compared to $20.8 million for the same period in 2010, driven primarily by higher pre-tax income. The effective tax rate was 36.6% for fourth quarter 2011. The effective tax rate for fourth quarter 2010 was 40.7%.

Net Income and Earnings per Share – See Table 15

Net income increased $14.2 million, or 47.0%, to $44.5 million for fourth quarter 2011. The net income margin increased to 19.7% from 14.2% in fourth quarter 2010. Diluted EPS increased 44.0% to $0.36.

Adjusted net income, which excludes $11.1 million of after-tax impact of amortization of intangibles, non-recurring stock-based compensation expense, transaction expenses, restructuring costs and debt repayment and refinancing expenses, rose $11.2 million, or 25.4%, to $55.6 million. Adjusted EPS, which excludes the after-tax, per share impact of amortization of intangibles, non-recurring stock-based compensation expense, transaction expenses, restructuring costs and debt repayment and refinancing expenses totaling $0.09, rose 25.0% to $0.45.

See table 15 titled “Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS to Net Income and EPS.”

Adjusted EBITDA – See Table 13

Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes, among other things, the impact of non-recurring stock-based compensation and restructuring costs, was $103.6 million, an increase of $4.7 million, or 4.8%, from fourth quarter 2010. Adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 45.8% from 46.4%.

By segment, Adjusted EBITDA for the Performance and Risk segment increased $6.4 million, or 7.1%, to $97.0 million from fourth quarter 2010. Adjusted EBITDA margin for this segment rose slightly to 49.1% from 48.9% in fourth quarter 2010. Adjusted EBITDA for the Governance segment declined by 20.1% to $6.7 million and the Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 23.4% from 29.6%.

See Table 13 titled “Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income” and “Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

 

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Summary of Results for Fiscal Year 2011 compared to Fiscal Year 2010

Operating Revenues – See Table 5

Total operating revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (fiscal year 2011) increased $238.0 million, or 35.9%, to $900.9 million compared to $662.9 million for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2010 (fiscal year 2010). Total subscription revenue rose $194.7 million, or 36.2%, to $732.5 million, while asset-based fees rose $31.9 million, or 30.6%, to $136.0 million. Total non-recurring revenues increased $11.4 million, or 54.3%, to $32.5 million. Excluding the impact of the acquisitions of RiskMetrics and Measurisk, total revenues increased by $67.6 million, or 13.4%.

By product line, index and ESG products revenues grew 22.5% from fiscal year 2010. Risk management analytics revenues grew by 81.1%, driven largely by the acquisition of RiskMetrics. Portfolio management analytics revenues declined 3.5% and energy and other commodity analytics revenues fell 12.1%.

By segment, Performance and Risk revenues rose $177.0 million, or 29.3%, to $781.4 million for fiscal year 2011. Governance revenues rose $61.0 million, or 104.1%, to $119.6 million.

Operating Expenses – See Table 7

Total operating expenses increased $122.2 million, or 26.7%, to $578.9 million in fiscal year 2011 compared to fiscal year 2010. Operating expenses included restructuring costs of $3.6 million in fiscal year 2011 and $8.9 million in fiscal year 2010 as well as transaction expenses of $21.2 million in fiscal year 2010. Excluding these expenses, total operating expenses would have risen by $148.7 million, or 34.8%. The increase reflects increases of $78.5 million, or 39.5%, in cost of services, $22.7 million, or 11.9%, in SG&A expense, $2.0 million, or 11.6%, in depreciation and amortization expense and $24.2 million, or 58.2%, in amortization of intangibles.

Other Expense (Income), Net

Other expense (income), net for fiscal year 2011 was $58.6 million, an increase of $6.0 million from fiscal year 2010. The increase was driven by increased indebtedness resulting from our acquisition of RiskMetrics. Other expense (income), net includes debt repayment and refinancing expenses of $6.4 million in fiscal year 2011 and $8.3 million in fiscal year 2010.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income tax expense was $90.0 million for fiscal year 2011, an increase of $28.6 million, or 46.7%, compared to $61.3 million for fiscal year 2010. Our effective tax rate for fiscal year 2011 was 34.2% compared to 40.0% for fiscal year 2010. The income tax provision for fiscal year 2011 was impacted by $4.2 million of certain non-recurring benefits relating to prior tax periods. Excluding that benefit, the effective tax rate was 35.7% in fiscal year 2011.

Net Income and Earnings per Share – See Table 15

Net income increased $81.3 million, or 88.2%, to $173.5 million and the net income margin increased to 19.3% from 13.9%. Diluted EPS rose by 74.1% to $1.41 from $0.81.

Adjusted net income, which excludes the after-tax impact of amortization of intangibles, non-recurring stock-based compensation expense, transaction expenses, debt repayment expenses, and restructuring costs totaling $53.8 million, rose $72.9 million, or 47.3%, to $227.3 million. Adjusted EPS, which excludes the after-tax, per share impact of amortization of intangibles, non-recurring stock-based compensation expense, transaction expenses, debt repayment expenses, and restructuring costs totaling $0.44, rose 37.0% to $1.85 in fiscal year 2011.

 

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See table 15 titled “Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS to Net Income and EPS.”

Adjusted EBITDA – See Table 13

Adjusted EBITDA was $418.7 million, an increase of $111.1 million, or 36.1%, from fiscal year 2010. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose slightly to 46.5% from 46.4%.

By segment, Adjusted EBITDA for the Performance and Risk segment increased $95.8 million, or 32.9%, to $387.5 million from fiscal year 2010. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 49.6% from 48.3% in fiscal year 2010. Adjusted EBITDA for the Governance segment increased $15.3 million, or 96.0%, to $31.3 million and the Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 26.2% from 27.2%.

See Table 13 titled “Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income” and “Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Summary of Results for Fiscal Year 2011 compared to Pro Forma Fiscal Year 2010

Operating Revenues – See Table 5

Total operating revenues for fiscal year 2011 compared to pro forma fiscal year 2010 rose $84.5 million, or 10.4%, to $900.9 million. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Measurisk, which was acquired in third quarter 2010, revenues grew 9.3%. Subscription revenue rose $53.5 million, or 7.9%, to $732.5 million, driven by growth in index and ESG subscriptions and risk management analytics. Asset-based fees rose $31.9 million, or 30.6%, to $136.0 million. Non-recurring revenues fell by $0.9 million, or 2.6%, to $32.5 million, as lower governance and lower index and ESG revenues more than offset growth in non-recurring risk management analytics revenues.

By segment, Performance and Risk revenues rose $88.2 million, or 12.7%, to $781.4 million. Governance revenues declined $3.7 million, or 3.0%, to $119.6 million.

Operating Expenses – See Table 7

Compared to pro forma fiscal year 2010, total operating expense for fiscal year 2011 increased $11.7 million, or 2.1%, to $578.9 million.

Total compensation expense excluding non-recurring stock-based compensation increased $19.0 million, or 6.0%, to $338.2 million. Non-compensation costs excluding depreciation and amortization and restructuring costs increased $3.3 million, or 2.4%, to $144.0 million.

Compared to pro forma fiscal year 2010, total cost of services rose $4.2 million, or 1.5%, to $277.1 million. The growth was driven by an increase of $2.0 million, or 1.0%, in compensation excluding non-recurring stock-based compensation expense and a $3.7 million, or 5.2%, increase in non-compensation expenses, partially offset by a decline in non-recurring stock-based compensation.

Total SG&A increased $13.7 million, or 6.9%, to $213.0 million in fiscal year 2011. The increase was driven by growth of $17.0 million, or 14.0%, in compensation excluding non-recurring stock-based compensation partially offset by a decline of $3.0 million in non-recurring stock-based compensation and a small decline in non-compensation expenses.

 

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Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA – See Table 14

Compared to pro forma fiscal year 2010, net income increased $62.6 million, or 56.5%, to $173.5 million from $110.8 million.

Compared to pro forma fiscal year 2010, fiscal year 2011 Adjusted EBITDA increased $62.2 million, or 17.4%, to $418.7 million and the Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded to 46.5% from 43.7%. By segment, Performance and Risk Adjusted EBITDA rose $63.2 million, or 19.5%, to $387.5 million. The margin expanded to 49.6% from 46.8%. Governance Adjusted EBITDA fell $1.0 million, or 3.1%, to $31.3 million and the Adjusted EBITDA margin was flat at 26.2%.

See Table 14 titled “Reconciliation of Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA to Pro Forma Net Income” and “Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Conference Call Information

Investors will have the opportunity to listen to MSCI Inc.’s senior management review fourth quarter and fiscal year 2011 results on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:00 am Eastern Time. To listen to the live event, visit the investor relations section of MSCI’s website, http://ir.msci.com/events.cfm, or dial 1-877-312-9206 within the United States. International callers dial 1-408-774-4001.

An audio recording of the conference call will be available on our website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event and will be accessible through February 8, 2012. To listen to the recording, visit http://ir.msci.com/events.cfm, or dial 1-855-859-2056 (passcode: 43052585) within the United States. International callers dial 1-404-537-3406 (passcode: 43052585).

About MSCI Inc.

MSCI Inc. is a leading provider of investment decision support tools to investors globally, including asset managers, banks, hedge funds and pension funds. MSCI products and services include indices, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and governance tools.

The company’s flagship product offerings are: the MSCI equity indices to which there are approximately $7 trillion in assets1 benchmarked worldwide; Barra portfolio risk and performance analytics covering global equity and fixed income markets; RiskMetrics market and credit risk analytics; ISS governance research and outsourced proxy voting and reporting services; FEA valuation models and risk management software for the energy and commodities markets; and CFRA forensic accounting risk research, legal/regulatory risk assessment, and due-diligence. MSCI is headquartered in New York, with research and commercial offices around the world. MSCI#IR

 

1 As of June 30, 2011. Estimate based on eVestment, Lipper and Bloomberg data

For further information on MSCI Inc. or our products please visit www.msci.com.

 

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MSCI Inc. Contact:

 

Edings Thibault, MSCI, New York    + 1.212.804.5273

For media inquiries please contact:

 

Patrick Clifford, Abernathy MacGregor, New York    + 1.212.371.5999
Sally Todd | Kristy Fitzpatrick, MHP Communications, London    + 44.20.3128.8100

Forward-Looking Statements

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

Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements can be found in MSCI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2010 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 31, 2011, and in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this release reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Notes Regarding the Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

MSCI has presented supplemental non-GAAP financial measures as part of this earnings release. A reconciliation is provided below that reconciles each non-GAAP financial measure with the most comparable GAAP measure. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternative measures for the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These measures are used by management to monitor the financial performance of the business, inform business decision making and forecast future results.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before provision for income taxes, other net expense and income, depreciation and amortization, non-recurring stock-based compensation expense, restructuring costs, and third party transaction expenses related to the acquisition of RiskMetrics.

Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS are defined as net income and EPS, respectively, before provision for non-recurring stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, third party transaction expenses related to the acquisition of RiskMetrics, restructuring costs, and the accelerated interest expense resulting from the termination of an interest rate swap and the accelerated amortization or write off of deferred financing and debt discount costs as a result of debt repayment (debt repayment expenses), as well as for any related tax effects.

 

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We believe that adjustments related to restructuring costs, transaction expenses and debt repayment expenses are useful to management and investors because it allows for an evaluation of MSCI’s underlying operating performance by excluding the costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of RiskMetrics. Additionally, we believe that adjusting for non-recurring stock-based compensation expenses, debt repayment and refinancing expenses and the amortization of intangible assets may help investors compare our performance to that of other companies in our industry as we do not believe that other companies in our industry have as significant a portion of their operating expenses represented by these items. We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release facilitate meaningful period-to-period comparisons and provide a baseline for the evaluation of future results.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS are not defined in the same manner by all companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

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Table 2: MSCI Inc. Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Fiscal Year Ended  
     December 31,     November 30,     September 30,     December 31,     November 30,  

In thousands, except per share data

   2011     2010     2011     2011     2010  

Operating revenues

   $ 226,134      $ 213,318      $ 225,026      $ 900,941      $ 662,901   

Operating expenses

          

Cost of services

     69,121        69,131        68,968        277,147        198,626   

Selling, general and administrative

     54,509        49,300        53,724        212,972        190,244   

Restructuring costs

     125        1,943        (1,002     3,594        8,896   

Amortization of intangibles

     16,268        16,694        16,422        65,805        41,599   

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements

     4,478        5,530        4,669        19,425        17,413   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

   $ 144,501      $ 142,598      $ 142,781      $ 578,943      $ 456,778   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 81,633      $ 70,720      $ 82,245      $ 321,998      $ 206,123   

Operating margin

     36.1     33.2     36.5     35.7     31.1

Interest income

     (335     (128     (184     (848     (993

Interest expense

     13,267        17,495        13,113        55,819        51,337   

Other expense (income)

     (1,427     2,274        (983     3,614        2,288   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expenses (income), net

   $ 11,505      $ 19,641      $ 11,946      $ 58,585      $ 52,632   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before taxes

     70,128        51,079        70,299        263,413        153,491   

Provision for income taxes

     25,642        20,813        20,512        89,959        61,321   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 44,486      $ 30,266      $ 49,787      $ 173,454      $ 92,170   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income Margin

     19.7     14.2     22.1     19.3     13.9

Earnings per basic common share

   $ 0.37      $ 0.25      $ 0.41      $ 1.43      $ 0.82   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings per diluted common share

   $ 0.36      $ 0.25      $ 0.40      $ 1.41      $ 0.81   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing earnings per share

          

Basic

     121,146        119,309        120,831        120,717        112,074   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

     122,536        121,172        122,303        122,276        113,357   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Table 3: MSCI Inc. Selected Balance Sheet Items (unaudited)

 

     As of  
     December 31,      December 31,  
     2011      2010  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 252,211       $ 269,423   

Short-term investments

     140,490         72,817   

Trade receivables, net of allowances

     180,566         137,988   

Deferred revenue

   $ 289,217       $ 268,807   

Current maturites of long-term debt

     10,339         54,932   

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     1,066,548         1,207,966   

 

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Table 4: Fourth Quarter 2011 Operating Revenues by Product Category and Revenue Type

 

     Three Months Ended      % Change from  
     December 31,      November 30,      September 30,      November 30,     September 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010     2011  

Index and ESG products

             

Subscriptions

   $ 69,677       $ 61,147       $ 66,279         13.9     5.1

Asset-based fees

     31,057         30,041         35,030         3.4     (11.3 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Index and ESG products total

     100,734         91,188         101,309         10.5     (0.6 %) 

Risk management analytics

     62,037         57,963         61,861         7.0     0.3

Portfolio management analytics

     30,149         31,010         30,263         (2.8 %)      (0.4 %) 

Energy and commodity analytics

     4,647         4,871         2,797         (4.6 %)      66.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total Performance and Risk revenues

     197,567         185,032         196,230         6.8     0.7

Total Governance revenues

     28,567         28,286         28,796         1.0     (0.8 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total operating revenues

   $ 226,134       $ 213,318       $ 225,026         6.0     0.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Subscriptions

     189,763         176,791         183,735         7.3     3.3

Asset-based fees

     31,057         28,330         35,030         9.6     (11.3 %) 

Non-recurring revenues

     5,314         8,197         6,261         (35.2 %)      (15.1 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total operating revenues

   $ 226,134       $ 213,318       $ 225,026         6.0     0.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Table 5: Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Revenues by Product Category and Revenue Type

 

     Fiscal Year Ended      % Change from  
     December 31,      November 30,      Pro forma      November 30,     Pro forma  
     2011      2010      2010      2010     2010  

Index and ESG products

             

Subscriptions

   $ 264,390       $ 224,600       $ 233,667         17.7     13.1

Asset-based fees

     140,243         105,799         105,799         32.6     32.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Index and ESG products total

     404,633         330,399         339,466         22.5     19.2

Risk management analytics

     243,570         134,521         214,327         81.1     13.6

Portfolio management analytics

     118,889         123,159         123,159         (3.5 %)      (3.5 %) 

Energy and commodity analytics

     14,263         16,228         16,226         (12.1 %)      (12.1 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total Performance and Risk revenues

     781,355         604,307         693,178         29.3     12.7

Total Governance revenues

     119,586         58,594         123,241         104.1     (3.0 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total operating revenues

   $ 900,941       $ 662,901       $ 816,419         35.9     10.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Subscriptions

     732,473         537,768         678,968         36.2     7.9

Asset-based fees

     135,981         104,084         104,084         30.6     30.6

Non-recurring revenues

     32,487         21,049         33,367         54.3     (2.6 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total operating revenues

   $ 900,941       $ 662,901       $ 816,419         35.9     10.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

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Table 6: Additional Fourth Quarter 2011 Operating Expense Detail

 

     Three Months Ended     % Change from  
     December 31,      November 30,      September 30,     November 30,     September 30,  

In thousands

   2011      2010      2011     2010     2011  

Cost of services

            

Compensation

   $ 50,132       $ 48,849       $ 50,114        2.6     0.0

Non-recurring stock-based compensation

     443         1,617         470        (72.6 %)      (5.8 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

Total compensation

   $ 50,575       $ 50,466       $ 50,584        0.2     (0.0 %) 

Non-compensation

     18,546         18,665         18,384        (0.6 %)      0.9
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

Total cost of services

   $ 69,121       $ 69,131       $ 68,968        (0.0 %)      0.2

Selling, general and administrative

            

Compensation

   $ 34,672       $ 29,508       $ 34,874        17.5     (0.6 %) 

Non-recurring stock-based compensation

     701         2,410         820        (70.9 %)      (14.6 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

Total compensation

   $ 35,373       $ 31,918       $ 35,694        10.8     (0.9 %) 

Transaction expenses

     —           —           —          n/m        n/m   

Non-compensation

     19,136         17,382         18,030        10.1     6.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

Total selling, general and administrative

   $ 54,509       $ 49,300       $ 53,724        10.6     1.5

Restructuring costs

     125         1,943         (1,002     (93.6 %)      (112.4 %) 

Amortization of intangibles

     16,268         16,694         16,422        (2.6 %)      (0.9 %) 

Depreciation and amortization

     4,478         5,530         4,669        (19.0 %)      (4.1 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

Total operating expenses

   $ 144,501       $ 142,598       $ 142,781        1.3     1.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

In thousands

                                

Total non-recurring stock-based compensation

   $ 1,144       $ 4,027       $ 1,290        (71.6 %)      (11.3 %) 

Compensation excluding non-recurring comp

     84,804         78,357         84,988        8.2     (0.2 %) 

Transaction expenses

     —           —           —          n/m        n/m   

Non-compensation excluding transaction expenses

     37,682         36,047         36,414        4.5     3.5

Restructuring costs

     125         1,943         (1,002     (93.6 %)      (112.4 %) 

Amortization of intangibles

     16,268         16,694         16,422        (2.6 %)      (0.9 %) 

Depreciation and amortization

     4,478         5,530         4,669        (19.0 %)      (4.1 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

Total operating expenses

   $ 144,501       $ 142,598       $ 142,781        1.3     1.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

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Table 7: Additional Fiscal Year 2011 Operating Expense Detail

 

     Fiscal Year Ended      % Change from  
     December 31,      November 30,      Pro forma FY      November 30,     Pro forma FY  

In thousands

   2011      2010      2010      2010     2010  

Cost of services

             

Compensation

   $ 199,447       $ 142,485       $ 197,417         40.0     1.0

Non-recurring stock-based compensation

     3,150         4,639         4,639         (32.1 %)      (32.1 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total compensation

   $ 202,597       $ 147,124       $ 202,056         37.7     0.3

Non-compensation

     74,550         51,502         70,883         44.8     5.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total cost of services

   $ 277,147       $ 198,626       $ 272,939         39.5     1.5

Selling, general and administrative

             

Compensation

   $ 138,722       $ 102,144       $ 121,722         35.8     14.0

Non-recurring stock-based compensation

     4,768         7,727         7,727         (38.3 %)      (38.3 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total compensation

   $ 143,490       $ 109,871       $ 129,449         30.6     10.8

Transaction expenses

     —           21,206         —           (100.0 %)      n/m   

Non-compensation

     69,482         59,167         69,841         17.4     (0.5 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total selling, general and administrative

   $ 212,972       $ 190,244       $ 199,290         11.9     6.9

Restructuring costs

     3,594         8,896         8,896         (59.6 %)      (59.6 %) 

Amortization of intangibles

     65,805         41,599         64,477         58.2     2.1

Depreciation and amortization

     19,425         17,413         21,660         11.6     (10.3 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total operating expenses

   $ 578,943       $ 456,778       $ 567,262         26.7     2.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

In thousands

                                 

Total non-recurring stock-based compensation

   $ 7,918       $ 12,366       $ 12,366         (36.0 %)      (36.0 %) 

Compensation excluding non-recurring comp

     338,169         244,629         319,139         38.2     6.0

Transaction expenses

     —           21,206         —           (100.0 %)      n/m   

Non-compensation excluding transaction expenses

     144,032         110,669         140,724         30.1     2.4

Restructuring costs

     3,594         8,896         8,896         (59.6 %)      (59.6 %) 

Amortization of intangibles

     65,805         41,599         64,477         58.2     2.1

Depreciation and amortization

     19,425         17,413         21,660         11.6     (10.3 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

Total operating expenses

   $ 578,943       $ 456,778       $ 567,262         26.7     2.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

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Table 8: Summary Fourth Quarter 2011 Segment Information

 

     Three Months Ended     % Change from  
     December 31,     November 30,     September 30,     November 30,     September 30,  

In thousands

   2011     2010     2011     2010     2011  

Revenues

          

Performance and Risk

   $ 197,567      $ 185,032      $ 196,230        6.8     0.7

Governance

     28,567        28,286        28,796        1.0     (0.8 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total Operating revenues

   $ 226,134      $ 213,318      $ 225,026        6.0     0.5

Operating Income

          

Performance and Risk

     79,046        67,743        78,957        16.7     0.1

Margin

     40.0     36.6     40.2    

Governance

     2,587        2,977        3,288        (13.1 %)      (21.3 %) 

Margin

     9.1     10.5     11.4    

Total Operating Income

   $ 81,633      $ 70,720      $ 82,245        15.4     (0.7 %) 

Margin

     36.1     33.2     36.5    

Adjusted EBITDA

          

Performance and Risk

     96,964        90,552        99,549        7.1     (2.6 %) 

Margin

     49.1     48.9     50.7    

Governance

     6,684        8,362        7,446        (20.1 %)      (10.2 %) 

Margin

     23.4     29.6     25.9    

Total Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 103,648      $ 98,914      $ 106,995        4.8     (3.1 %) 

Margin

     45.8     46.4     47.5    

Table 9: Summary Fiscal Year 2011 Segment Information

 

     Fiscal Year Ended     % Change from  
     December 31,     November 30,     Pro forma FY     November 30,     Pro forma FY  

In thousands

   2011     2010     2010     2010     2010  

Revenues

          

Performance and Risk

   $ 781,355      $ 604,307      $ 693,178        29.3     12.7

Governance

     119,586        58,594        123,241        104.1     (3.0 %) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total Operating revenues

   $ 900,941      $ 662,901      $ 816,419        35.9     10.4

Operating Income

          

Performance and Risk

     310,504        200,369        235,883        55.0     31.6

Margin

     39.7     33.2     34.0    

Governance

     11,494        5,754        13,274        99.7     (13.4 %) 

Margin

     9.6     9.8     10.8    

Total Operating Income

   $ 321,998      $ 206,123      $ 249,157        56.2     29.2

Margin

     35.7     31.1     30.5    

Adjusted EBITDA

          

Performance and Risk

     387,459        291,642        324,283        32.9     19.5

Margin

     49.6     48.3     46.8    

Governance

     31,281        15,961        32,273        96.0     (3.1 %) 

Margin

     26.2     27.2     26.2    

Total Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 418,740      $ 307,603      $ 356,556        36.1     17.4

Margin

     46.5     46.4     43.7    

 

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Table 10: Key Operating Metrics

 

    As of or For the Quarter Ended     % Change from  
    December 31,     September 30,     December 31,     September 30,  

Dollars in thousands

  2011     2010     2011     2010     2011  

Run Rates 1

         

Index and ESG products

         

Subscriptions

  $ 269,780      $ 236,157      $ 264,722        14.2     1.9

Asset-based fees

    119,706        117,866        117,928        1.6     1.5
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Index and ESG products total

    389,486        354,023        382,650        10.0     1.8

Risk management analytics

    250,967        233,504        251,804        7.5     (0.3 %) 

Portfolio management analytics

    118,354        115,158        119,220        2.8     (0.7 %) 

Energy and commodity analytics

    14,928        15,288        15,343        (2.3 %)      (2.7 %) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total Performance and Risk Run Rate

  $ 773,735      $ 717,973      $ 769,017        7.8     0.6

Governance Run Rate

    108,251        105,036        107,152        3.1     1.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total Run Rate

  $ 881,986      $ 823,009      $ 876,169        7.2     0.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Subscription total

    762,280        705,143        758,241        8.1     0.5

Asset-based fees total

    119,706        117,866        117,928        1.6     1.5
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Total Run Rate

  $ 881,986      $ 823,009      $ 876,169        7.2     0.7
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Subscription Run Rate by region

         

% Americas

    52     53     53    

% non-Americas

    48     47     47    

New Recurring Subscription Sales

  $ 35,444      $ 33,742      $ 31,661        5.0     11.9

Subscription Cancellations

    (27,245     (30,174     (15,364     (9.7 %)      77.3
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net New Recurring Subscription Sales

  $ 8,199      $ 3,568      $ 16,297        129.8     (49.7 %) 

Non-recurring sales

  $ 7,459      $ 11,819      $ 6,561        (36.9 %)      13.7

Employees

    2,429        2,099        2,277        15.7     6.7

% Employees by location

         

Developed Market Centers

    61     70     62    

Emerging Market Centers

    39     30     38    

 

1 The run rate at a particular point in time represents the forward-looking fees for the next 12 months from all subscriptions and investment product licenses we currently provide to our clients under renewable contracts assuming all contracts that come up for renewal are renewed and assuming then-current exchange rates. For any subscription or license whose fees are linked to an investment product’s assets or trading volume, the run rate calculation reflects an annualization of the most recent periodic fee earned under such license or subscription. The run rate does not include fees associated with “one-time” and other non-recurring transactions. In addition, we remove from the run rate the fees associated with any subscription or investment product license agreement with respect to which we have received a notice of termination or non-renewal during the period and we have determined that such notice evidences the client’s final decision to terminate or not renew the applicable subscription or agreement, even though the notice is not effective until a later date.

 

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Table 11: Supplemental Operating Metrics

 

Recurring Subscription Sales & Subscription Cancellations   
    Three Months Ended 2010     Three Months Ended 2011     Year ended  
    March     June     September     December     March     June     September     December     Dec. 2010     Dec. 2011  

New Recurring Subscription Sales

  $ 26,831      $ 33,847      $ 35,373      $ 33,742      $ 34,612      $ 30,298      $ 31,661      $ 35,444      $ 129,793      $ 132,015   

Subscription Cancellations

    (19,379     (18,222     (19,654     (30,174     (14,402     (14,965     (15,364     (27,245     (87,429     (71,976
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net New Recurring Subscription Sales

  $ 7,452      $ 15,625      $ 15,719      $ 3,568      $ 20,210      $ 15,333      $ 16,297      $ 8,199      $ 42,364      $ 60,039   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Aggregate & Core Retention Rates   
    Three Months Ended 2010     Three Months Ended 2011     Year Ended  
    March     June     September     December     March     June     September     December     Dec. 2010     Dec. 2011  

Aggregate Retention Rate 1

                   

Index and ESG products

    94.4     90.2     92.4     89.8     95.0     92.8     95.2     89.3     91.7     93.1

Risk management analytics

    83.4     92.0     87.7     85.6     94.2     92.2     92.1     80.8     87.5     89.5

Portfolio management analytics

    88.9     84.5     82.2     63.1     88.6     91.4     86.6     87.2     79.7     88.4

Energy & commodity analytics

    80.7     86.8     90.3     81.7     76.9     88.8     89.3     75.0     84.9     82.5

Total Performance and Risk

    88.7     89.4     88.3     82.1     93.0     92.2     92.2     85.2     87.3     90.5

Total Governance

    84.8     85.6     87.1     80.1     85.0     90.4     86.2     80.6     84.4     85.6
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Aggregate Retention Rate

    88.1     88.8     88.1     81.8     91.8     91.9     91.3     84.5     86.8     89.8
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Core Retention Rate 1

                   

Index and ESG products

    95.1     90.7     92.6     90.1     95.2     92.8     95.2     89.3     92.1     93.1

Risk management analytics

    85.2     92.5     90.0     85.6     94.2     92.7     92.1     81.0     88.6     90.0

Portfolio management analytics

    90.9     86.7     86.0     64.1     89.9     93.2     88.3     88.3     81.9     89.9

Energy & commodity analytics

    80.7     86.8     90.3     81.2     76.9     88.8     91.3     75.0     84.7     83.0

Total Performance and Risk

    90.1     90.3     90.1     82.4     93.4     92.7     92.6     85.5     88.3     91.0

Total Governance

    84.8     85.6     87.1     80.1     85.0     90.4     86.3     80.6     84.4     85.6
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Core Retention Rate

    89.2     89.5     89.6     82.0     92.1     92.4     91.6     84.8     87.7     90.2
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 

The quarterly Aggregate Retention Rates are calculated by annualizing the cancellations for which we have received a notice of termination or non-renewal during the quarter and we have determined that such notice evidences the client’s final decision to terminate or not renew the applicable subscription or 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 year to calculate a cancellation rate. This cancellation rate is then subtracted from 100% to derive the annualized Retention Rate for the quarter. The Aggregate Retention Rate is computed on a product-by-product basis. Therefore, if a client reduces the number of products to which it subscribes or switches between our products, we treat it as a cancellation. In addition, we treat any reduction in fees resulting from renegotiated contracts as a cancellation in the calculation to the extent of the reduction. For the calculation of the Core Retention Rate the same methodology is used except the amount of cancellations in the quarter is reduced by the amount of product swaps.

Table 12: ETF Assets Linked to MSCI Indices1

 

     Three Months Ended 2010      Three Months Ended 2011      Year Ended  

In Billions

   March      June     September      December      March      June     September     December      Dec. 2010      Dec. 2011  

Beginning Period AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI Indices

   $ 243.0       $ 255.4      $ 236.8       $ 290.7       $ 333.3       $ 350.1      $ 360.5      $ 290.1       $ 243.0       $ 333.3   

Cash Inflow/ Outflow

     4.9         11.9        14.9         21.9         6.7         14.2        (0.0     1.0         53.6         21.9   

Appreciation/Depreciation

     7.5         (30.5     39.0         20.7         10.1         (3.8     (70.4     10.5         36.7         (53.6
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Period End AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI Indices

   $ 255.4       $ 236.8      $ 290.7       $ 333.3       $ 350.1       $ 360.5      $ 290.1      $ 301.6       $ 333.3       $ 301.6   

Period Average AUM in ETFs linked to MSCI Indices

   $ 242.8       $ 249.6      $ 263.7       $ 317.0       $ 337.6       $ 356.8      $ 329.1      $ 305.0       $ 270.7       $ 333.5   

 

1 

ETF assets under management calculation methodology is ETF net asset value multiplied by shares outstanding.

Source: Bloomberg and MSCI

 

 

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Table 13: Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income

 

         Three Months Ended December 31, 2011      Three Months Ended November 30, 2010  
         Performance
and Risk
     Governance     Total      Performance
and Risk
     Governance      Total  

Net Income

        $ 44,486             $ 30,266   
Plus:   Provision for income taxes           25,642               20,813   
Plus:   Other expense (income), net           11,505               19,641   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 79,046       $ 2,587      $ 81,633       $ 67,743       $ 2,977       $ 70,720   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Plus:   Non-recurring stock-based comp      1,015         129        1,144         4,027         —           4,027   
Plus:   Transaction costs      —           —          —           —           —           —     
Plus:   Depreciation and amortization      3,595         883        4,478         4,797         733         5,530   
Plus:   Amortization of intangible assets      12,927         3,341        16,268         13,344         3,350         16,694   
Plus:   Restructuring costs      381         (256     125         641         1,302         1,943   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 96,964       $ 6,684      $ 103,648       $ 90,552       $ 8,362       $ 98,914   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
         Year Ended December 31, 2011      Year Ended November 30, 2010  
         Performance
and Risk
     Governance     Total      Performance
and Risk
     Governance      Total  
Net Income         $ 173,454             $ 92,170   
Plus:   Provision for income taxes           89,959               61,321   
Plus:   Other expense (income), net           58,585               52,632   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Operating income    $ 310,504       $ 11,494      $ 321,998       $ 200,369       $ 5,754       $ 206,123   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
Plus:   Non-recurring stock-based comp      7,446         472        7,918         12,366         —           12,366   
Plus:   Transaction costs      —           —          —           21,206         —           21,206   
Plus:   Depreciation and amortization      15,144         4,281        19,425         16,129         1,284         17,413   
Plus:   Amortization of intangible assets      52,414         13,391        65,805         34,899         6,700         41,599   
Plus:   Restructuring costs      1,951         1,643        3,594         6,673         2,223         8,896   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 387,459       $ 31,281      $ 418,740       $ 291,642       $ 15,961       $ 307,603   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Table 14: Reconciliation of Fiscal Year 2010 Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA to Pro Forma Net Income

 

         Pro Forma Fiscal Year 2010  
         Performance
and Risk
     Governance     Total  

Net Income

        $ 110,831   
Plus:   Provision for income taxes           66,896   
Plus:   Other expense (income), net           71,430   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 235,883       $ 13,274      $ 249,157   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
Plus:   Non-recurring stock-based comp      12,366         —          12,366   
Plus:   Transaction costs      —           —          —     
Plus:   Depreciation and amortization      18,224         3,436        21,660   
Plus:   Amortization of intangible assets      51,137         13,340        64,477   
Plus:   Restructuring costs      6,673         2,223        8,896   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
Adjusted EBITDA    $ 324,283       $ 32,273      $ 356,556   
    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table 15: Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS to Net Income and EPS

 

     Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
     December 31,     November 30,     September 30,     December 31,     November 30,  
     2011     2010     2011     2011     2010  

GAAP - Net income

   $ 44,486      $ 30,266      $ 49,786      $ 173,454      $ 92,170   

Plus: Non-recurring stock based comp

     1,144        4,027        1,290        7,918        12,366   

Plus: Amortization of intangible assets

     16,268        16,694        16,422        65,805        41,599   

Plus: Transaction costs1

     —          —          —          —          22,040   

Plus: Debt repayment and refinancing expenses2

     —          —          —          6,404        8,274   

Plus: Restructuring costs

     126        1,943        (1,003     3,594        8,896   

Less: Income tax effect3

     (6,463     (8,610     (5,585     (29,913     (31,015
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted net income

   $ 55,561      $ 44,320      $ 60,910      $ 227,262      $ 154,330   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EPS - diluted

          

GAAP - EPS

   $ 0.36      $ 0.25      $ 0.40      $ 1.41      $ 0.81   

Plus: Non-recurring stock based comp

     0.01        0.03        0.01        0.06        0.11   

Plus: Amortization of intangible assets

     0.13        0.14        0.13        0.54        0.36   

Plus: Transaction costs1

     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.00        0.19   

Plus: Debt repayment and refinancing expenses2

     0.00        0.00        0.00        0.05        0.07   

Plus: Restructuring costs

     0.00        0.02        (0.01     0.03        0.08   

Less: Income tax effect3

     (0.05     (0.08     (0.04     (0.24     (0.27
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EPS

   $ 0.45      $ 0.36      $ 0.49      $ 1.85      $ 1.35   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1 

Third party transaction expenses related to the acquisition of RiskMetrics.

2 

In the first quarter of 2011, MSCI repaid $88.0 million of its outstanding term loan. At the same time, MSCI repriced the remaining $1.125 million loan. As a result, MSCI recorded $6.1 million of underwriting fees in conjunction with the repricing and $0.3 million of accelerated write-down of deferred financing expense related to the $88 million repayment. MSCI also incurred $8.3 million of expenses in fiscal year 2010 resulting from the refinancing of its indebtedness to complete the acquisition of RiskMetrics.

3 

For the purposes of calculating Adjusted EPS, non-recurring stock based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, debt repayment and refinancing expenses, and restructuring costs are assumed to be taxed at the effective tax rate excluding transaction costs and, in 2011, non-recurring benefits of $4.2 million. For fourth quarter 2011, the rate is 36.6%. For fourth quarter 2010, the effective tax rate excluding transaction costs was 39.9%. For fiscal year 2011, the rate is 35.7% and for fiscal year 2010, the rate was 37.4%.

 

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