Deutsche Börse acquires leading governance, ESG data and analytics provider ISS

Deutsche Börse AG, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) and Genstar Capital LLC announced today that Deutsche Börse will acquire a majority share of approximately 80% in ISS, valuing ISS at USD 2,275 million (EUR 1,925 million) for 100% of the business (cash and debt free). Genstar Capital and current management will continue to hold a stake of approximately 20%. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021 subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

This partnership of a global market infrastructure provider with a leading corporate governance, ESG, data and analytics provider forms an excellent foundation to fully realise opportunities for future growth in ESG-based investing globally. With this transaction, Deutsche Börse strongly commits to one of the key megatrends in the industry that will fundamentally change the investment space over the coming years. ISS’ unique ESG and data expertise will allow Deutsche Börse to emerge as a leading global ESG data player.

ISS’ more than 4,000 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who rely on ISS’ objective and impartial governance and ESG data and research, as well as public companies focused on ESG and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. This transaction will bring a strengthened capital structure to ISS and the ability to further accelerate organic and inorganic growth initiatives for the benefit of ISS’ clients while leveraging the infrastructure of Deutsche Börse and, in particular, its global index franchise. After the closing, ISS will continue to operate with the same editorial independence in its data and research organisation that is in place today. The current executive leadership team with CEO Gary Retelny will co-invest in the transaction and will also lead the business of ISS after the closing.

The businesses of ISS and Deutsche Börse are highly complementary and offer the potential for revenue synergies along the Group’s entire value chain: the partnership of ISS with the leading index and analytics capabilities of Qontigo, which is also part of the Group, will open opportunities for ESG growth on both sides. Further linkages along the value chain include ISS’ data distribution, which will benefit from the leading position of the Group’s post-trading services provider Clearstream in the investment funds space. In total, revenue synergies are expected to result in EUR 15 million additional EBITDA by 2023. ISS brings unique access to the buyside with more than 2,000 asset managers, including the global top 10. Moreover, ISS’ strong footprint in the US complements well with Deutsche Börse’s leading position in Europe.

This transaction is the logical next step in Deutsche Börse’s pre-trade growth strategy. It complements last year’s creation of Qontigo, formed from the combination of the analytics capabilities of Axioma with Deutsche Börse’s existing STOXX and DAX index businesses. As a leading ESG-focused provider of high-quality data, analytics and insight, ISS has attractive growth rates. In 2020, ISS is expected to generate net revenue of more than USD 280 million (pro-forma IFRS) and an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 35% pre-transaction effects, which has further operating leverage potential. Net revenue of ISS is expected to grow organically at a rate of more than 5% on average per annum until 2023. Deutsche Börse will report ISS’ financial performance as a separate pre-trading segment within the Group.

Theodor Weimer, CEO of Deutsche Börse AG, commented on the acquisition of ISS: “ISS is a very successful company with a high reputation worldwide as a global market leader in providing data, analytics and insights to investors and companies as well as governance services. It is one of the leading ESG providers. Its ESG expertise and data capabilities perfectly link to Deutsche Börse’s business model along our entire value chain. Together, ISS and Deutsche Börse have complementary ingredients to become one of the globally leading ESG players of the future. We have been deeply impressed by the culture and the leadership team of ISS. We look forward to partnering with ISS and working together to support the company’s continued business growth and jointly drive forward Deutsche Börse’s strategy.”

Stephan Leithner, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Börse AG, responsible for the Pre- and Post-Trading businesses, added: “ISS combines an emphasis on global corporate governance with an increasing focus on a broader definition of ESG standards, where Europe currently plays a trendsetter role. In this sense, we see our future partnership as a perfect combination to drive innovation and deliver the best expertise for ISS’ traditional investor clients and Deutsche Börse’s financial intermediary clients. As a neutral market infrastructure provider, Deutsche Börse is a natural candidate to provide these kinds of services.”

Gary Retelny, ISS President and CEO, said: “Deutsche Börse’s market-leading brands and solutions align very well with ISS’ offerings within our governance, ESG, index and market intelligence businesses. We believe that the potential combination of ISS’ ESG data and STOXX’ indices will offer clients new, powerful and innovative solutions with unique data sets that meet their evolving investment needs. We at ISS look forward to partnering with Deutsche Börse, along with Genstar Capital, as we continue to build upon the success of our diversified businesses around the world. As we have for more than 35 years, we remain committed to ensuring the provision of the highest quality research, data, analytics, and insight to our clients globally.”

Genstar Capital Managing Director, Tony Salewski, said: “Gary and the ISS management team have built a market-leading data and governance platform through innovative product development and impactful acquisitions, and we appreciate the partnership we have had with them over the past three years. As we continue as investors in ISS, we are excited by the value that Deutsche Börse will bring and our shared commitment to further accelerate ISS’ growth.”
 
 

About Deutsche Börse
As an international exchange organisation and innovative market infrastructure provider, Deutsche Börse Group ensures markets characterised by integrity, transparency and stability. With its wide range of products, services and technologies, the Group organises safe and efficient markets for sustainable economies.
Its business areas extend along the entire value chain in exchange trading, including the admission, trading and clearing, and custody of securities and other financial instruments, the dissemination of market data, as well as the management of collateral and liquidity. As a technology company, the Group develops state-of-the-art IT solutions and offers IT systems all over the world.
With more than 6,500 employees, the Group has its headquarters in the financial centre of Frankfurt/Rhine-Main, as well as a strong global presence in 38 locations such as Luxembourg, Prague, London, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney. 
For more information, please visit www.deutsche-boerse.com.
 
Media Contacts:
Ingrid Haas, Head of Group Communications & Marketing 
+49 69 211-1 32 17
ingrid.haas@deutsche-boerse.com

Christina Vogt, Head of Pre- and Post-Trading Communications
+49 69-2 11-1 78 54
christina.vogt@deutsche-boerse.com

Patrick Kalbhenn, Group Spokesperson
+49 69-2 11-1 47 30
patrick.kalbhenn@deutsche-boerse.com

About ISS
Founded in 1985, Institutional Shareholder Services group of companies (ISS), empowers investors and companies to build for long-term and sustainable growth by providing high-quality data, analytics and insight. ISS is today a global leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions, market intelligence and fund services and events and editorial content for institutional investors and corporations globally. Clients rely on ISS’ expertise to help them make informed investment decisions.
ISS currently has more than 2,000 employees worldwide across more than 30 global offices in 15 countries. Its more than 4,000 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who rely on ISS’ objective and impartial ESG and governance research, market intelligence and fund services and data and analytics as well as public companies focused on ESG and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. 

For more information, please visit www.issgovernance.com.

Media Contact:
Subodh Mishra, Managing Director
+1 301-556-0500
subodh.mishra@issgovernance.com

 
About Genstar Capital
Genstar Capital is a leading private equity firm that has been actively investing in high quality companies for over 30 years.  Based in San Francisco, Genstar works in partnership with its management teams and its network of strategic advisors to transform its portfolio companies into industry- leading businesses.  Genstar currently has approximately $19 billion assets under management and targets investments focused on targeted segments of the financial services, healthcare, industrial and software industries.
For more information, please visit www.gencap.com
 
Media Contact:
Chris Tofalli, Chris Tofalli Public Relations
+1 914-834-4334
chris@tofallipr.com
  
 
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