Datastream and SDC Platinum (M&A)

Today I found out that the SDC Platinum database Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) has a couple of variables that allow you to search for companies in this SDC database using Datastream codes (Mnemonic in Datastream: DS Code). In addition it is also possible to include the variables in your custom report. Using these codes from the SDC download you can then find more company data in Datastream by uploading these codes as a list in Excel.

The Datastream code variables in the M&A database are:

• Acquirer Datastream Code (Code: A_DS_CODE)
• Target Datastream Code (Code: T_DS_CODE)
• Target or Acquiror Code (Code: B_DS_CODE)

Using the Tool "list wizard" you can upload the datastream code list in Datastream. It is important to remember, that company names in Datastream may have changed and that this database has another name for the same company instead of the original name as reported in the M&A database of SDC Platinum.

When I found out that the M&A database had these search variables I also tried to upload a list of DS codes from Datastream in the M&A database but this did not work as it should. I keep getting zero search results. I have contacted the helpdesk about this and I hope to get an answer from them soon. When I do, I will post this, of course.

Note: To be on the safe side it is always a good idea to download other codes as well in case you need to search in more databases. Company codes that may be relevant are: CUSIP, Sedol and Ticker.

Author information: LinkedIn

02:04 PM - 17 February 2010

Residential Mortgage Backed securities

Residential Mortgage Backed securities are a type of Mortgage-backed security which are backed by mortgages on residential rather than commercial real estate.

The SDC Platinum Global New Issue (GNI) is a good source for data if you are interested in Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS). Unfortunately, there is not a single search variable which can be used to get the data you need from the GNI database. I investigated it a bit and checked with the Thomson Reuters helpdesk and the way to get this data is to do a combined search.

If, for example, you want the RMBS data for Germany you need to first select "All Asset Backed Issues" using the variable "Mortgage or Asset-Backed Issue type". This variable can be found in the search screen in the tab "Deal". When you double-click on the variable you then select "All Asset Backed Issues" (MTGTYPC = G,I,J,L,O,R).

Next you can narrow the search result by searching the database through the "All Items" tab. After selecting the tab, type in "Issue type". When the variables are shown that have this text in the name you should be able to find the search variable "Asset Type Backing Issue". Double-click on this variable and select the the type "residential mtg".

As the final step you can use the variable "Issuer/Borrower Nation" to narrow the search result to RMBS in Germany (West and East Germany (GD + WG)).

Author information: LinkedIn

10:27 AM - 25 November 2009

SDC Platinum Analysis report problem

The last couple of days I ran into a problem when I tried to create a custom analysis (report). The analysis I wanted to do was: I wanted to create an overview for a long period with monthly cumulative lists of the nations of the acquiring companies and the number of deals they were involved in. When I used the execute button I kept getting the error: "Rank failed". Followed by another message: "Output buffer too small for block":

After contacting the Thomson Reuters helpdesk I learned that the problem had to do with the amount of data in combination with the too large time period. When I used the Analysis Report option with a smaller selection (± 1300 deals) for a shorter period of time (5 years) this option worked fine. If you want to analyse larger datasets for a larger time period, the solution is to break up the search in parts and then execute the same Analysis Report for each selection separately.

Author information: LinkedIn

01:32 AM - 22 September 2009

Analysing information from SDC Platinum

When You want to see how volatile a market is or how much activity takes place you can use SDC to download data on a specific selection of transactions and afterwards analyse the download. SDC offers some options to do an analysis immediately and download the result as a report. An example is the option to get grouped analysis reports.

If I do a sample search on Cross-border M&A deals involving a specific country. Next I can use the Analysis option from the menu to create a grouped report: select from the Menu at the top: Analysis. The options for analyzing the selected group are grouped in separate tabs:

• Volume Totals: Date announced, Date effective/Unconditional, Ranke Date, Rank Value range
• Target: geographic options like Country or state, Company, Industry
• Acquirer: geographic options like Country or state, Company, Industry, Investor name
• Sector: acquisition technique, deal attitude, defensive action, deal outcome, deal status.

Also included is the feature to create you own custom analysis report. Here you can also create your own analysis and group the results by month or year. Select from the Menu at the top: Analysis > New custom.

This is on of the handy features the Thomson financial company has built into the software to do a quick analysis without the need for software like Excel, Acces, SPSS or eViews.

Author information: LinkedIn

12:42 PM - 17 September 2009

Uploading company lists in SDC Platinum - part 2

• Sedol codes
• ISIN codes (International Securities Identifying Number)

1. Type in the name Ticker
2. Double click to select the Ticker variable from the list. A new box will appear where you need to input the code(s)
3. Go to a list of Tickers (a file you prepared earlier) and select the tickers you need. This list may be an excel file or a plain text file.
4. Copy the list into the temporary memory (Ctrl + C)
5. Go back to SDC Platinum and Right Click (paste) the list in the new box.
6. Click the button OK to upload the list

Author information: LinkedIn

09:22 PM - 30 June 2008