MSCI Acquires Data Aggregator Insignis

Acquisition strengthens MSCI's data delivery and services capabilities

PRESS RELEASE

New York - September 15, 2015 - MSCIInc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of research-based indexesand analytics, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the assets of Insignis, Inc., a leading data collection and aggregation service for the financial industry.

Insignis provides daily automated collection, aggregation and management of financial data, including data on positions, transactions and complex instruments such as exchange-traded futures and options, OTC swaps and foreign exchange spot and forward contracts. Insignis' data footprint today covers 35 custodians, 15 futures brokers and 20 OTC managers with over $2 trillion in market value.

MSCI currently leverages Insignis' technology in its InvestorForce product lineand plans to expand its use to further automate the collection and integration of data across its risk and performance managementplatforms, which serve over 1,200 clients globally.

Peter Zangari, Managing Director and Global Head of Analytics for MSCI, said, "Asset owners, consultants, asset managers, banks and hedge funds around the world count on the quality of the data that powers our indexesand analytical tools. This acquisition further strengthens our industry-leading position in analytics and demonstrates our commitment to providing a superior end-to-end solution for clients."

Jim Morrissey, Managing Director, MSCI, said, "Clients are looking to MSCI to help them address the ever- growing challenges of collecting, normalizing and reconciling complex data for performance and risk reporting. This acquisition is an example of how we are focused on improving the entire data value chain for clients - from data aggregation to delivery of accurate, high quality analytics".

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed and the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on MSCI's financial results. Following completion of the acquisition, revenues attributable to Insignis will be included in MSCI's Analytics products category. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

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About MSCI

For more than 40 years, MSCI's research-based indexes and analytics have helped the world's leading investors build and manage better portfolios. Clients rely on our offerings for deeper insights into the drivers of performance and risk in their portfolios, broad asset class coverage and innovative research.

Our line of products and services includes indexes, analytical models, data, real estate benchmarks and ESG research. MSCI serves 98 of the top 100 largest money managers, according to the most recent P&I ranking.

For more information, visit us at www.msci.com.

Investor Relations

Stephen Davidson, MSCI + 1 212 981 1090/stephen.davidson@msci.com

PRESS RELEASE

Media Inquiries New York

Kristin Meza, MSCI + 1 212 804 5330/kristin.meza@msci.com

London

Paul Griffin, MSCI + 44 20 7618 2594/paul.griffin@msci.com

Nick Denton | Christian Pickel, MHP Communications + 44 20 3128 8754/8208

MSCI Global Client Service

EMEA Client Service + 44 20 7618.2222

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Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to fut ure events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual resul ts, 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 forward-looking 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 u ndue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control and that could materially affect actual results,
levels of activity, performance, or achievements.
Other factors that could materially affect 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, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 27, 2015, as amended, and in qu arterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, and may also include the risks and uncertainties associated with a failure to consummate or a delay in the consummatio n of the proposed transaction, including as a result of a failure to satisfy the conditions to closing in a timely manner or at all . If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what MSCI projected. Any forward -looking statement in this 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.

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