Leading Independent Investment Research, Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar

Leading Independent Investment Research

Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. We offer an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, and retirement plan providers and sponsors. 

Morningstar provides data on more than 500,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 16 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with more than $180 billion in assets under advisement or management as of June 30, 2015. We have operations in 27 countries.

Download the Morningstar Fact Sheet : http://corporate.morningstar.com/US/documents/MarketingFactSheets/AboutMorningstarFactsheet.pdf

Event-Driven

<ul><li class="p1">Towers Watson (TW) and Willis Group (WSH) completed the $18 billion merger in January to form Willis Towers Watson, the third largest professional advisory firm and insurance broker by revenue after MMC and Aon.</li><li class="p1">Shares are undervalued at a 22% discount to our $140 fair value estimate as we think investors underappreciate the value-creating opportunities now available</li></ul>Analyst: Vincent Lui

Towers Watson (TW) and Willis Group (WSH) completed the $18 billion merger in January to form Willis Towers Watson, the third largest professional advisory firm and insurance broker by revenue after MMC and Aon.Shares are undervalued at a 22% discount to our $140 fair value estimate as we think investors underappreciate the value-creating opportunities now availableAnalyst: Vincent Lui

A Big Merger Makes the New Willis Towers Watson a Good Bet

Public Relations and Social Media Manager, Dechert LLP

Peggy Heffner

Public Relations and Social Media Manager

Dechert is a global specialist law firm

Dechert LLP

Dechert is a global specialist law firm.
Focused on sectors with the greatest complexities, legal intricacies and highest regulatory demands, we excel in delivering practical commercial judgment and deep legal expertise for high-stakes matters.

Our work is widely recognized. We have 20 standout practices noted by Chambers Global, including global-wide rankings for arbitration, corporate investigations, anti-corruption, investment funds and life sciences. Named Antitrust Team of the Year, Chambers USA commends our “accomplished group” as “routinely sought after to handle some of the most significant litigation and transactions in the antitrust world.” 

In an increasingly challenging environment, clients look to us to serve them in ways that are faster, sharper and leaner without compromising excellence. We developed a first-of-its kind legal project management department, which uses technology, people and processes to drive efficiency and deliver value for our clients.

We are innovators. Dechert ranked #7 in the Financial Times’ Top North American Innovative Law Firms. Financial Times also recognizes us among the Top European Innovative Law Firms and highly commends World Compass, our marketing compliance service, which offers investment firms advice in more than 100 jurisdictions.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) on December 11, 2015 proposed new Rule 18f-4 (Proposed Rule) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) and amendments to certain proposed forms. The proposal relates to the use of derivatives and other transactions by registered investment companies – open-end funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and closed-end funds – and business development companies (BDCs) (collectively, funds).

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) on December 11, 2015 proposed new Rule 18f-4 (Proposed Rule) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act) and amendments to certain proposed forms. The proposal relates to the use of derivatives and other transactions by registered investment companies – open-end funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and closed-end funds – and business development companies (BDCs) (collectively, funds).

SEC Proposes Significant New Restrictions on the Use of Derivatives (Etc) By Registered Funds

Research and consultancy, Tabbush Report

Daniel Tabbush

Research and consultancy

Tabbush Report

We provide research and consultancy on Asian banks. Our focus is on what we call “Asian bank research, without the noise.” We are interested in the most critical swing-factors for banks, the NPL and credit cycle, and where we believe there is a gap between perception and reality. We often focus on the less studied components of bank financial statements.  Our research is highly thematic, sometimes examining unlisted banks and companies as a window on mainstream banks. 

Being independent allows us to look at smaller banks, often overlooked by others. Analysis of BIS bank guidelines in the context of Asia, is also a focal point, while we also analyze global banks operating in the region. We use what we believe is the most comprehensive, reliable financials database, SNL Financial. S&P Capital IQ augments our database, with corporate data and CEIC, with economics. 

Asian bank research, without the noise.

In DBS’s year 2014 annual report it defines market risk on page 90 as follows: “Market risk is the risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, credit spreads and commodity prices, as well as their correlations and implied volatilities.” <figure class="editor-figure"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/004/663/original/Market%20Risk.png?1450243661" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="4663"><figcaption class="figcaption">Source: DBS 2014 Annual Report p90</figcaption></figure>In the bank’s 2012 annual report the definition on page 81 was slightly different: “Market risk affects the economic values of financial instruments held by the…

In DBS’s year 2014 annual report it defines market risk on page 90 as follows: “Market risk is the risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices, credit spreads and commodity prices, as well as their correlations and implied volatilities.” Source: DBS 2014 Annual Report p90In the bank’s 2012 annual report the definition on page 81 was slightly different: “Market risk affects the economic values of financial instruments held by the…

With Radically Lower Oil Prices, Market Risk Assets Is a Focus

Information Technology Consultant

Ishita Jain

Lending Club, the leading loan marketplace that has epitomized the rise of the fintechs and its growth from startup to corporate status, went public in December 2014 raising $900 million.&nbsp;It is&nbsp;the flag bearer for all fintechs that has successfully&nbsp;navigated the tricky years from inception and&nbsp;private funding to the public market. Since its&nbsp;IPO at&nbsp;$15 per share, the company has seen lots of volatility in its share price, which at the time of writing this, sat below its pre-IPO price at $12.47 with an all time high of&nbsp;$29.29.&nbsp;Many have concluded that its share price trajectory&nbsp;is representative of the waning confidence in the broader fintech industry. Is there truth in this belief or is there more than what meets the eye about the darling of the fintech world? Let's take a look.

Lending Club, the leading loan marketplace that has epitomized the rise of the fintechs and its growth from startup to corporate status, went public in December 2014 raising $900 million.&nbsp;It is&nbsp;the flag bearer for all fintechs that has successfully&nbsp;navigated the tricky years from inception and&nbsp;private funding to the public market. Since its&nbsp;IPO at&nbsp;$15 per share, the company has seen lots of volatility in its share price, which at the time of writing this, sat below its pre-IPO price at $12.47 with an all time high of&nbsp;$29.29.&nbsp;Many have concluded that its share price trajectory&nbsp;is representative of the waning confidence in the broader fintech industry. Is there truth in this belief or is there more than what meets the eye about the darling of the fintech world? Let's take a look.

<ul><li>Balance sheet strength, management acuity, and regulatory systems matter more for financial services firms than other stock sectors.</li><li>Financial crises are rarely driven by economic shocks alone. Nonmacro factors embedded in the regulatory, competitive, political, and economic environments are bigger contributors to banking crises.</li><li>Leverage can be moat-destructive. Given the hefty amounts of financial and operating leverage in the business models of Financial Services firms, it is critical to focus on firms with stable management teams, consistent business strategies, and selective mergers and acquisitions policies.</li><li>Transformative deals are rarely moat-enhancing. With relationships, reputations and business culture all being critical contributors to business success, it is rare to see a firm pull off a "transformative" deal that does not disrupt one of these pillars, which is why most acquisitions fall short of their original intent.</li></ul>Analyst: Greggory Warren, CFA

Balance sheet strength, management acuity, and regulatory systems matter more for financial services firms than other stock sectors.Financial crises are rarely driven by economic shocks alone. Nonmacro factors embedded in the regulatory, competitive, political, and economic environments are bigger contributors to banking crises.Leverage can be moat-destructive. Given the hefty amounts of financial and operating leverage in the business models of Financial Services firms, it is critical to focus on firms with stable management teams, consistent business strategies, and selective mergers and acquisitions policies.Transformative deals are rarely moat-enhancing. With relationships, reputations and business culture all being critical contributors to business success, it is rare to see a firm pull off a "transformative" deal that does not disrupt one of these pillars, which is why most acquisitions fall short of their original intent.Analyst: Greggory Warren, CFA

United States

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company operates as an advisory, broking, and solutions company. The Company provides a range of insurance brokerage, reinsurance, and risk management consulting services. Willis Towers Watson serves customers worldwide.

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Willis Towers Watson (WTW US)

A Big Merger Makes the New Willis Towers Watson a Good Bet

Towers Watson (TW) and Willis Group (WSH) completed the $18 billion merger in January to form Willis Towers Watson, the third largest professional...

Morningstar, Inc.

SEC Proposes Significant New Restrictions on the Use of Derivatives (Etc) By Registered Funds

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission) on December 11, 2015 proposed new Rule 18f-4 (Proposed Rule) under the Investment Company...

Dechert LLP

With Radically Lower Oil Prices, Market Risk Assets Is a Focus

In DBS’s year 2014 annual report it defines market risk on page 90 as follows: “Market risk is the risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse...

Daniel Tabbush

An Analysis on Lending Club

Lending Club, the leading loan marketplace that has epitomized the rise of the fintechs and its growth from startup to corporate status, went...

Ishita Jain

Breaking the Bank

Balance sheet strength, management acuity, and regulatory systems matter more for financial services firms than other stock sectors. Financial...

Morningstar, Inc.

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