Morningstar Rebrands Realpoint LLC Businesses

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Jun 10, 2011, 09:00 ET

CHICAGO, June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment research, today announced it has rebranded Realpoint LLC's businesses under the Morningstar name. Morningstar acquired Realpoint in May 2010, adding research, ratings, and data on structured finance securities to the company's research offerings for institutional investors.

Morningstar's structured credit research and ratings subsidiary is a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) that offers securities ratings, research, surveillance services, and data to help institutional investors identify and manage credit risk in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS). Morningstar provides ratings and pre-sale analysis for investors in the primary market for CMBS securities. In addition, more than 200 institutional investment firms subscribe to its structured finance ratings and analytics services for surveillance and secondary market coverage, including the majority of money managers who invest in CMBS.

"Morningstar entered the credit ratings market in December 2009 with the launch of corporate credit ratings, and we greatly expanded our credit research offerings when we acquired Realpoint," said Catherine Odelbo, president of equity and credit research for Morningstar. "Our analytical approach stresses transparency of the ratings process, strong fundamental credit analysis, and comprehensive investor-focused reporting. We'll continue to have an unrelenting focus on our advocacy for investors as we expand our business in structured finance."

Robert Dobilas, president of Morningstar's structured credit research and ratings business, said, "We're beginning a new chapter by rebranding our offerings under the Morningstar name. We're proud of the reputation we've built in the commercial mortgage-backed securities market, and equally proud to be adopting a trusted name like Morningstar."

In March 2011, the company expanded its ratings services to include an operational risk assessment practice, focused on evaluating commercial and residential mortgage servicing firms, loan originators, and service providers to these businesses. The new capabilities will provide investors with a comprehensive assessment of the operational risk of the parties in the securitization process and enhance the company's transaction-level ratings and analysis of mortgage-backed securities. More information about the operational risk assessment practice is available at http://corporate.morningstar.com/us/asp/subject.aspx?xmlfile=174.xml&filter=PR4650.

Morningstar is expanding its services to include a comprehensive ratings and analytics offering for investors in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), and expects to launch its service in the fourth quarter of 2011.

About Morningstar, Inc.

Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company offers an extensive line of Internet, software, and print-based products and services for individuals, financial advisors, and institutions. Morningstar provides data on approximately 390,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 5 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. Morningstar also offers investment management services and has nearly $140 billion in assets under advisement and management as of March 31, 2011. The company has operations in 26 countries.

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SOURCE Morningstar, Inc.