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.
©2011 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.
MORN-C
Media Contact:
In Chicago: Margaret Kirch Cohen, 312-696-6383 or
margaret.cohen@morningstar.com
In Horsham, Penn.: Joe Petro, 267-960-6004 or
joe.petro@morningstar.com
SOURCE Morningstar, Inc.