Company News: MSCI Strengthens Private Asset Capabilities with Acquisition of Real Capital Analytics

Posted by Datscha on 25th August 2021 -

NEW YORK – August 2, 2021 – MSCI Inc. (“MSCI” or the “Company”) (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Real Capital Analytics (“RCA”) for $950 million in cash. 

Founded in 2000, Real Capital Analytics is a private company and the go-to data and analytics provider of the properties, transactions and participants that drive the commercial real estate capital markets globally. The company has built a sterling reputation within the commercial real estate industry for effectively aggregating timely and reliable transaction data and providing valuable intelligence on market pricing, capital flows and investment trends in more than 170 countries. The most active investors, lenders, brokers and advisors depend on RCA’s unique insight to formulate their strategies, source new opportunities, and execute their deals. 

This acquisition will expand MSCI’s robust 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. MSCI will leverage Real Capital Analytics’ database of more than $20 trillion of commercial property transactions linked to over 200,000 investor and lender profiles, enhancing MSCI’s commercial real estate capabilities. 

Henry Fernandez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MSCI, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Real Capital Analytics. The commercial real estate sector is seeing substantial transformation driven by several factors, including shifting consumer behaviors in work, lifestyle and travel accelerated by the pandemic, realignment in global supply chains, and the impact of climate change. The combined strength of MSCI’s existing data, analytics and tools, and the addition of Real Capital Analytics’ wealth of commercial real estate data and analytics, creates an unparalleled level of solutions for the real estate market. Investors will be better supported to access the opportunities that exist within this sector at scale, informed by industry-leading insights and the premier global database capturing the global commercial real estate footprint.”

Robert M White, Jr., Founder and President of Real Capital Analytics, commented: “MSCI is a natural home for Real Capital Analytics since our primary goal has always been to bridge the information gap between commercial real estate and other asset classes across the financial markets. The combination of the two firms creates a powerful team that will lead innovation and analytics in the real estate asset class well into the future.”  

In enhancing MSCI’s commercial real estate capabilities, this acquisition also underscores the firm’s commitment to accelerating and expanding the use of data, analytics and workflow applications for investors in global private assets. This builds on MSCI’s strategic partnership with Burgiss, a market-leading provider of data, analytics and technology solutions for investors of private capital.

The transaction is expected to be funded with existing cash on hand and close at the end of the third quarter, or early in the fourth quarter, of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Real Capital Analytics’ financial results will be presented as part of MSCI’s All Other – Private Assets reportable segment. 

MSCI's senior management will host a conference call to review this transaction on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the live event, visit the events and presentations section of MSCI's Investor Relations homepage, https://ir.msci.com/events-and-presentations, or dial 877-376-9931 conference ID:  9267888 within the United States. International callers may dial 720-405-2251 conference ID:  9267888. The teleconference will also be webcast with an accompanying slide presentation which will be available on MSCI's Investor Relations website by 7:15 a.m. Eastern Time today.