July 01, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
July 01, 2024 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
NEW
YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI) and Moody’s Corporation
(NYSE:MCO) today announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership
agreement, leveraging each other’s strengths to bring greater
transparency on ESG and sustainability to markets and power better
decisions.
Moody’s will leverage MSCI’s sustainability data and
models, which are used by the world’s largest asset managers and asset
owners. The agreement, entered into last week, includes MSCI’s
industry-leading ESG ratings and content, which measure a company’s
management of financially relevant ESG risks and opportunities. With
access to MSCI data, Moody’s intends over time to migrate its existing
ESG data and scores to offering MSCI’s sustainability content through a
range of solutions serving Moody’s customers in the banking, insurance
and corporate sectors.
MSCI will gain access to Moody’s Orbis
database, the world’s leading source of firmographic information with
data on more than 500 million entities, to extend its private company
ESG coverage. In addition, MSCI and Moody’s will explore solutions that
leverage Moody’s private company data and credit scoring models to
provide greater insight into the private credit market.
“Moody’s
is excited to partner with MSCI, a leader in solutions for the global
investment community and a pioneer in ESG and sustainability,” said Rob
Fauber, President and CEO of Moody’s. “This is a real win-win, as
Moody’s customers gain access to MSCI’s renowned ESG content and MSCI
customers will gain access to Moody’s world-class risk assessment
expertise, data and insights.”
“We are exceptionally pleased to
partner with Moody’s to offer MSCI’s ESG and sustainability data to
Moody’s broad base of global customers,” said Henry A. Fernandez,
Chairman and CEO of MSCI. “Sustainability remains one of the most
important trends reshaping the global investment landscape, and the
shift to private assets is another. This agreement will help MSCI expand
our private company ESG coverage and deliver enhanced solutions across
client segments and asset classes.”
The partnership does not
impact Moody’s Ratings, the credit rating agency, which will continue to
provide transparency into the material impacts of ESG factors on its
credit ratings through its proprietary Credit Impact Scores and Issuer
Profile Scores. Moody’s Ratings will also continue to offer its
sustainable finance offerings, including Second Party Opinions and Net
Zero Assessments. In addition, Moody’s remains committed to providing
its market-leading climate solutions to customers.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
About Moody’s Corporation
In
a world shaped by increasingly interconnected risks, Moody’s (NYSE:
MCO) data, insights, and innovative technologies help customers develop a
holistic view of their world and unlock opportunities. With a rich
history of experience in global markets and a diverse workforce of
approximately 15,000 across more than 40 countries, Moody’s gives
customers the comprehensive perspective needed to act with confidence
and thrive. Learn more at moodys.com.
About MSCI
MSCI is a
leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for
the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in
research, data, and technology, we power better investment decisions by
enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and
return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create
industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain
insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To
learn more, please visit www.msci.com.
“Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Certain
statements contained in this document are forward-looking statements
and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for Moody’s
business and operations that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Such statements involve estimates, projections, goals,
forecasts, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results
or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed,
projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
Stockholders and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and
other information in this document are made as of the date hereof, and
Moody’s undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly
supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis,
whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or
otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. In
connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Moody’s is identifying certain factors
that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from
those indicated by these forward-looking statements. These factors,
risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the impact of
general economic conditions (including significant government debt and
deficit levels, and inflation and related monetary policy actions by
governments in response to inflation) on worldwide credit markets and on
economic activity, including on the volume of mergers and acquisitions,
and their effects on the volume of debt and other securities issued in
domestic and/or global capital markets; the uncertain effectiveness and
possible collateral consequences of U.S. and foreign government
initiatives and monetary policy to respond to the current economic
climate, including instability of financial institutions, credit quality
concerns, and other potential impacts of volatility in financial and
credit markets; the global impacts of the Russia - Ukraine military
conflict and the military conflict in Israel and the surrounding areas
on volatility in world financial markets, on general economic conditions
and GDP in the U.S. and worldwide, on global relations and on the
Company's own operations and personnel; other matters that could affect
the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global
capital markets, including regulation, increased utilization of
technologies that have the potential to intensify competition and
accelerate disruption and disintermediation in the financial services
industry, as well as the number of issuances of securities without
ratings or securities which are rated or evaluated by non-traditional
parties; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and
abroad; the uncertain effectiveness and possible collateral consequences
of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting credit markets,
international trade and economic policy, including those related to
tariffs, tax agreements and trade barriers; the impact of MIS’s
withdrawal of its credit ratings on countries or entities within
countries and of Moody’s no longer conducting commercial operations in
countries where political instability warrants such actions; concerns in
the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market
perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency
ratings; the introduction or development of competing and/or emerging
technologies and products; pricing pressure from competitors and/or
customers; the level of success of new product development and global
expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new
U.S., state and local legislation and regulations; the potential for
increased competition and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we
operate, including the EU; exposure to litigation related to our rating
opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory
proceedings, investigations and inquiries to which Moody’s may be
subject from time to time; provisions in U.S. legislation modifying the
pleading standards and EU regulations modifying the liability standards
applicable to credit rating agencies in a manner adverse to credit
rating agencies; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional
procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and
the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for
regulatory purposes; uncertainty regarding the future relationship
between the U.S. and China; the possible loss of key employees and the
impact of the global labor environment; failures or malfunctions of our
operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or
other cybersecurity concerns; the timing and effectiveness of our
restructuring programs, such as the 2022 - 2023 Geolocation
Restructuring Program; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the
outcome of any review by tax authorities of Moody’s global tax planning
initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies
if Moody’s fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations
that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which Moody’s operates,
including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws,
anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to
government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions, such as our
acquisition of RMS, or other business combinations and the ability of
Moody’s to successfully integrate acquired businesses; the level of
future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in
the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions.
These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and
uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or
implied in the forward-looking statements are described in greater
detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Moody’s annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and in other filings
made by the Company from time to time with the SEC or in materials
incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned
that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties
may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the
forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse
effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial
condition. New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not
possible for the Company to predict new factors, nor can the Company
assess the potential effect of any new factors on it. Forward-looking
and other statements in this document may also address our corporate
responsibility progress, plans, and goals (including sustainability and
environmental matters), and the inclusion of such statements is not an
indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors or
required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In addition, historical, current, and
forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on
standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal
controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are
subject to change in the future.
This press release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate
to future events or to future financial performance and involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause MSCI's
actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be
materially different from any future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by these statements. In
some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of
words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,”
“anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or
“continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable
terminology. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond MSCI’s control and
that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements.
Other factors that could materially
affect MSCI's 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 December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 9, 2024 and in quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed or furnished with
the SEC. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if
MSCI’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may
vary significantly from what MSCI projected. Any forward-looking
statement in this press release reflects MSCI’s current views with
respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks,
uncertainties and assumptions relating to MSCI’s operations, results of
operations, growth strategy and liquidity. MSCI assumes no obligation to
publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any
reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise, except as required by law.
Contacts
For Moody’s Investor Relations:
Shivani Kak
Moody’s Corporation
+1 212-553-0298
Shivani.Kak@moodys.com
For Moody’s Communications:
Michael Adler
Moody’s Corporation
+1 347-225-7472
Michael.Adler@moodys.com
For MSCI Investor Relations:
Jeremy Ulan
MSCI
+1 646 778 4184
jeremy.ulan@msci.com
Jisoo Suh
MSCI
+1 212 804 1598
jisoo.suh@msci.com
For MSCI Communications:
pr@msci.com
Julie Mansmann
MSCI
+1 917 815 6375
Calum MacDougall
MSCI
+44 (0) 7876 836 759
Source: Moody’s Corporation Investor Relations
