Morningstar Launches Online Document Library for Global Investment Products; Principal Financial Integrates Library into Website

CHICAGO, March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment research, has launched the Morningstar® Document Library(SM), an online repository of documents covering investment products, such as open-end, closed-end, money market, and exchange-traded funds, as well as unit investment trusts, variable annuity subaccounts, and stocks. Brokerage firms and retirement plan providers can link to the library or seamlessly integrate it into their advisor and investor platforms, software, tools, and websites to deliver important documents to clients that meet pre- and post-sale regulatory requirements. The Principal Financial Group has just integrated the library into its advisor and investor websites to provide accurate and timely global investment documentation.

"We selected Morningstar because it offers an automated, streamlined process for us to add and change documents within the library. This puts critical, decision-making information into the hands of advisors, retirement plan sponsors, and individual investors more quickly and easily through the online experience," said Jeff Vorwerk, assistant director of investment services for the Principal Financial Group.

The Morningstar Document Library includes a comprehensive collection of the latest EDGAR filings accessible within 24 hours of submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Institutions can subscribe to the online library through an annual enterprise license. Available documents include:

• Annual reports
• Equity proxies
• Factsheets
• Form Adv I & II
• Insider activity
• Key announcements
• Prospectuses
• Registrant statements
• Semi-annual reports
• Significant ownership
• Simplified Prospectus
• Statements of additional information
• Summary Prospectus
• Supplements

"By combining 25 years of data collection experience with automated technology, we can help institutions meet regulatory requirements and deliver vital investment information to advisors and individual investors, in an easy, timely, and cost-effective manner," said Liz Kirscher, president of data services for Morningstar.

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 350,000 investment offerings, including stocks, mutual funds, and similar vehicles, along with real-time global market data on more than 4 million equities, indexes, futures, options, commodities, and precious metals, in addition to foreign exchange and Treasury markets. The company has operations in 20 countries and minority ownership positions in companies based in two other countries.

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SOURCE Morningstar, Inc.