Moody’s Corporation and BitSight announced a significant investment by Moody’s, further enhancing BitSight’s offerings and capabilities, to create a comprehensive, integrated, industry-leading cybersecurity risk platform. This transaction reflects the increasing strategic, financial, and operational impact of cyber risk to organisations and markets.
Over the past 18 months, the exponential rise of cyberattacks and ransomware has cost organisations hundreds of billions of dollars, threatened the stability and reputation of businesses across the globe, and created an imperative for business leaders and boards to assess and quantify their cyber risk. A Moody’s Investors Service review of cyber vulnerability and impact identified 13 sectors with high or medium-high risk with total rated debt exceeding $20 trillion.
Through the transaction’s announcement, Moody’s will invest $250 million in BitSight, a pioneer in cybersecurity ratings. BitSight will acquire VisibleRisk, a cyber risk ratings joint venture created by Moody’s Team8, a global venture group.
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BitSight helps global market participants understand cyber risk through ratings, analytics, and performance management tools, delivering unique insights for over 2,300 international customers, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, insurers, and asset managers. Moody’s will leverage BitSight’s extensive cyber risk data and research across its growing suite of integrated risk assessment product offerings. BitSight’s acquisition of VisibleRisk adds a unique, in-depth cyber risk assessment capability and advances its ability to analyse and calculate an organisation’s financial exposure to cyber risk. The transaction values BitSight at $2.4 billion, reflecting the company’s leadership in a rapidly growing data and analytics market.
“As organisations invest in cyber defence and resilience, another critical need has emerged: the ability to measure and quantify cyber risk and exposure accurately,” said Rob Fauber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s. “Creating transparency and enabling trust is at the core of Moody’s mission – to help organisations assess complex, interconnected risks and make more informed decisions. BitSight is the leader in the cybersecurity rating space, and together we will help market participants across disciplines better understand, measure, and manage their cyber risks and translate that to the risk of financial loss.”
“Cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats to global commerce in the 21st century,” said Steve Harvey, President and Chief Executive Officer of BitSight. “Our partnership with Moody’s and acquisition of VisibleRisk expands our reach to help customers manage cyber risk in an increasingly digital world.”
BitSight will create a Risk Solutions Division focused on delivering a suite of critical solutions and analytics serving stakeholders, including chief risk officers, c-suite executives, and boards of directors.
Following the transaction close, Moody’s will become the largest shareholder of BitSight, with a minority stake in the company. The investment will be funded with cash on hand and will not directly impact Moody’s 2021 financial results.
