Standard & Poor's Adds Public Finance Data and Risk Analytics to Global Credit Portal®

NEW YORK, June 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Valuation and Risk Strategies today announced the launch of powerful new analytics and data capabilities for investors in publicly-financed securities.  Financial Statement Data and S&P Indices® join RatingsDirect® Public Finance on S&P's Global Credit Portal® investor analytics platform.  Together, these credit analysis tools allow market participants to gain in-depth insight into the creditworthiness of debt securities issued by state and local governments, government-owned facilities, public authorities and agencies.

"With state and local governments still feeling the strain of the weakened economy, investors need to scrutinize publicly-financed debt more carefully than ever," said Sonia Kim, Managing Director, S&P Valuation and Risk Strategies.  "It is not enough just to look at a rating; investors need access to fast data that lets them compare a municipality's debt relative to its peers and market benchmarks.  The S&P Global Credit Portal is the only source to deliver that level of analysis in a single package."

The new public finance offerings combine a wide range of S&P analytics and benchmark data in a single research platform. Following is an overview of the extensive public finance analysis offering now available on S&P's Global Credit Portal:

• CreditStats Direct Public Finance: Direct access to reported financial statement data for over 10,000 key public finance issuers, including Health Care, Municipal/County, States, and School Districts. The capability enables side-by-side financial statistics and ratios comparisons and exporting of financial data into proprietary analytic models, offering transparency into the ratings process and a huge time savings for Municipal analysts.
  
• S&P Indices: Gain additional perspective on the market factors influencing public finance with a series of S&P indices that measure the strength and performance of the residential real estate market, consumer credit default rates and municipal bonds.  The indices provide benchmark comparisons of public finance portfolios against the S&P/Investortools Municipal Bond Indices; the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices; and the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices.
  
• RatingsDirect U.S. Public Finance: The full range of credit ratings, research and information from Standard & Poor's Ratings Services for over 1 million maturities nationwide, allowing detailed trend analysis, access to industry commentaries and ratings data and the creation of customized portfolios, with e-mail alerts to track issuers and maturities of interest.

RatingsDirect Public Finance, CreditStats Direct Public Finance and S&P Indices are all available to S&P customers worldwide through the S&P Global Credit Portal, www.standardandpoors.com/ratingsdirect.

About Standard & Poor's

Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With offices in 23 countries and markets, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for over 150 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit www.standardandpoors.com.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index.  Standard & Poor's does not sponsor, endorse, sell or promote any S&P index-based investment product. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where Standard & Poor's or its affiliates do not have the necessary licenses. Standard & Poor's receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

The credit-related analyses, including ratings, of Standard & Poor's and its affiliates are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions.  Ratings, credit-related analyses, data, models, software and output therefrom should not be relied on when making any investment decision.  Standard & Poor's opinions and analyses do not address the suitability of any security.  Standard & Poor's does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor.

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Media Contact:
Michael Privitera
Standard & Poor's Communications
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Product Contact:
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S&P Valuation and Risk Strategies
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SOURCE Standard & Poor's