MSCI announces board member Wayne Edmunds to retire

MSCI Inc . (NYSE:MSCI), a leading provider of investment decision support tools, announced today that board member Wayne Edmunds will retire and not seek re-election at the 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Edmunds, who has been a board member since 2015 and served on both the Audit and Risk Committee and the Compensation, Talent and Culture Committee, is stepping down with no disagreements with the company’s management or practices.

The company stated that Edmunds’ decision to retire was not motivated by any dispute concerning MSCI’s operations, policies, or practices. Following his departure, MSCI plans to decrease the size of its board from thirteen to twelve members.

This change in board composition comes as part of the company’s ongoing governance and oversight adjustments. MSCI did not immediately name a successor for Edmunds, and it remains to be seen how this reduction in board size will affect the dynamics and decision-making processes within the company.

MSCI, headquartered in New York, is known for its indexes and analytics that serve as benchmarks in the global financial markets. The company’s tools are widely utilized by investors to develop and manage their investment portfolios.

The announcement of Edmunds’ retirement was made in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2025, following his notification to the company on February 23, 2025. MSCI, incorporated in Delaware and having its principal executive offices at 7 World Trade Center in New York, has emphasized that the transition will be seamless and will not impact its commitment to maintaining high standards of corporate governance.

Shareholders and investors will be watching closely to see how MSCI navigates this transition and what implications it may have for the company’s strategic direction and governance structure. The information regarding Edmunds’ retirement is based on the latest SEC filing by MSCI.

In other recent news, MSCI Inc. reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, delivering an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.18, surpassing analyst forecasts of $3.96. However, the company’s revenue slightly missed expectations, coming in at $743.51 million. Despite mixed results, MSCI demonstrated strong performance with organic revenue growth nearing 10% for the full year and adjusted EPS growth of 12.4%. RBC Capital Markets maintained its Outperform rating on MSCI, with a price target of $675, noting challenges in the Real Assets sector but expressing optimism for a recovery in net new subscription sales by 2025.

JPMorgan adjusted its price target for MSCI to $680 from $700, retaining an Overweight rating, citing the company’s strong margin performance and a lower tax rate contributing to the earnings beat. MSCI’s management expressed confidence in the sales environment, highlighting improvements in sales cycles and client budgets. They also provided guidance for adjusted EBITDA expenses to rise by 7% to 10% year-over-year in 2025. The company plans to focus on areas such as custom indexing and fixed income solutions.

Despite some challenges, including inconsistent retention rates and ongoing issues in European active asset management, MSCI continues to see strong growth in AI-driven initiatives and ESG products. The company’s retention rate remains high at 93%, with significant free cash flow growth and share repurchases underscoring its commitment to shareholder value. Analysts at RBC Capital Markets and JPMorgan remain positive about MSCI’s future prospects, expecting continued growth driven by strategic investments and innovation.

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