Markit was a British financial information and services company that focused on credit derivative pricing. It was founded in 2003 and merged in 2016 with IHS to form IHS Markit.
Prior to its merger it had 4,500 employees in 21 offices worldwide and was as an independent source of credit derivative pricing.[3] The company provided independent financial data, trade processing of derivatives, foreign exchange and loans, customised technology platforms and managed services. The company aimed to enhance corporate transparency, reduce financial risk and improve operational economic efficiency. Its client base included institutional participants in the financial marketplace.
On 12 July 2016, Markit and IHS Inc. merged in an all-stock merger of equals to form IHS Markit.[4][5] IHS Markit later merged with S&P Global on 28 February 2022.[6]
Totem Valuations, a supplier of consensus valuations and month-end data, was bought by Markit in May 2004.[12]
The International Index Company (IIC) and CDS Index Company (CDSIndexCo), owners of the iTraxx and CDX credit default swap indexes, were acquired by Markit in November 2007.[13][14]
In December 2007, Markit announced the acquisition of SwapsWire.[15]
JPMorgan Chase's FCS Corporation, a provider of syndicated loan market portfolio and risk management software and services, including the Wall Street Office family of products, was acquired by Markit in July 2008.[17]
Fidelity Information Services's ClearPar, an electronic loan-trade-processing platform, was acquired by Markit in October 2009 which helped Markit to work with DTCC to improve the processing of syndicated loans.[18]
Public listing and growth
In 2013, Temasek Holdings bought 10% of shares for $500 million, thereby valuing the company at $5 bn.[19]
By 2012, the company had annual revenues of US$860 million, with over 3,000 employees and had a $5 billion valuation.[7] In 2013, different banks held 51% of Markit shares. 20% of shares were held by Markit employees and executives.
On 12 July 2016, Markit and IHS Inc. merged in an all-stock merger of equals to form IHS Markit.[4]
Index products
On 17 January 2006 CDS IndexCo and Markit launched ABX.HE, a subprime mortgage backed credit derivative index, with plans to extend the index to underlying asset types other than home equity loans.[22]
In 2013, Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange, a derivatives exchange and clearing house operator, announced four credit index futures contracts, based on the Markit CDX and Markit iTraxx indices—Markit CDX NA IG, Markit CDX NA HY, Markit iTraxx Europe (Main), and Markit iTraxx Crossover, would start in May 2013.[27][better source needed]
^ abLenzner, Robert (8 August 2007). "Profiting From The Meltdown". Forbes. Some top banks are quietly indexing credit, avoiding the credit bubble and raking in big bucks.
^"RBSGC". www.rbsgc.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
^IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) announced the launch of credit index futures contracts, Press Release Newswire, New York: IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), 11 March 2013