10-KPeriod: FY2004

STATE STREET CORP Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2004

Filed February 18, 2005For Securities:STTSTT-PG

Summary

State Street Corporation's 2004 10-K filing indicates a year of robust growth and strategic focus on institutional investors. The company experienced a significant increase in both assets under custody ($9.50 trillion) and assets under management ($1.35 trillion), demonstrating strong market penetration. The acquisition and integration of the Global Securities Services (GSS) business from Deutsche Bank in 2003 proved transformational, significantly expanding State Street's European presence and overall service capabilities. This integration, coupled with a heightened focus on cost management and operational efficiency, contributed to a 14% increase in total operating revenue and an 8% rise in operating diluted earnings per share, marking 27 consecutive years of operating EPS growth. The company's strategic priorities for 2004 included global expansion, streamlining of underperforming units, and rigorous expense management, all contributing to a solid financial performance.

Key Highlights

  • 1Assets under custody reached $9.50 trillion and assets under management hit $1.35 trillion by year-end 2004, showcasing significant growth.
  • 2The integration of the Global Securities Services (GSS) business acquired from Deutsche Bank in 2003 was largely completed, enhancing State Street's global reach, particularly in Europe.
  • 3Total operating revenue increased by 14% year-over-year to approximately $5.00 billion.
  • 4Operating diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew by 8% to $2.47, marking the company's 27th consecutive year of operating EPS growth.
  • 5Servicing fees saw a 16% increase, and management fees grew by 31% (on an operating basis), driven by higher market valuations and new business.
  • 6The company maintained strong capital adequacy ratios, with Tier 1 capital at 13.3% and total capital at 14.7% as of December 31, 2004, exceeding regulatory requirements.
  • 7State Street is preparing for the implementation of Basel II capital adequacy framework, expected to become fully operational by January 1, 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions

State Street's revenue growth in 2004 was primarily driven by the successful integration of the Deutsche Bank GSS acquisition, increased servicing fees due to higher equity market valuations and new client wins, and growth in management fees. Brokerage fees and net interest revenue also contributed to the overall increase.

The acquisition of the GSS business was a significant event, adding approximately $2.10 trillion to assets under custody and transforming State Street into a leading provider of custody services in Europe. While there were merger and integration costs, the business contributed positively to revenue and, on an operating basis, to earnings per share, achieving financial goals set at the time of acquisition.

In late 2004, State Street announced financial goals for 2005 and beyond, including annual operating earnings per share growth of 10% to 15%, annual operating revenue growth of 8% to 12%, and an annual operating return on stockholders' equity of 14% to 17%.

State Street actively manages market risk through a comprehensive framework. The company notes that a 10% change in worldwide equity values could impact total revenue by approximately 2%. Regarding interest rates, State Street's net interest revenue is sensitive to rate movements, with rising rates generally constraining net interest margin due to liabilities repricing faster than assets. The company also manages interest rate sensitivity through various modeling techniques.