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1. Basis of Presentation of Interim Financial Information
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Morningstar, Inc. and subsidiaries (Morningstar, we, our, the Company) have been prepared to conform to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, the statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our financial position, results of operations, equity, and cash flows. These financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010.
The acronyms that appear in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements refer to the following:
ASC: Accounting Standards Codification ASU: Accounting Standards Update EITF: Emerging Issues Task Force FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission |
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2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
We discuss our significant accounting policies in Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010. In addition, effective January 1, 2010, we adopted the following financial accounting standards:
· ASU No. 2009-16, Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) and Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and ASU No. 2009-17, Consolidations (Topic 810): Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities.
These accounting pronouncements change the way entities account for transfers of financial assets and determine what entities must be consolidated. The most significant amendment resulting from FASB ASU No. 2009-16 consists of the removal of the concept of a Qualifying Special-Purpose Entity (QSPE) from FASB ASC 860, Transfers and Services. ASU No. 2009-17 addresses the effects of eliminating the QSPE concept from ASC 860 and responds to concerns about the application of certain key provisions of FASB ASC 810, Consolidation, including concerns over the transparency of enterprises involvement with Variable Interest Entities (VIEs). These accounting pronouncements did not impact our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
· ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements.
ASU No. 2010-06 requires additional disclosures regarding fair value measurements. The amended guidance requires entities to disclose additional information regarding assets and liabilities that are transferred between levels of the fair value hierarchy. ASU 2010-06 also clarifies existing guidance pertaining to the level of disaggregation at which fair value disclosures should be made and the disclosure requirements regarding the valuation techniques and inputs used in estimating Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. The additional disclosures required by ASU No. 2010-06 appear in Note 6, in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. |
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3. Acquisitions, Goodwill, and Other Intangible Assets
2010 Acquisitions
In the first nine months of 2010, we completed six acquisitions, as follows:
Increased Ownership Interest in Morningstar Danmark A/S (Morningstar Denmark)
In July 2010, we acquired an additional 75% interest in Morningstar Denmark, increasing our ownership to 100% from 25%. Morningstar Denmarks main offering is the investment information website for individual investors, Morningstar.dk, which provides fund and ETF data, portfolio tools, and market analysis.
The total estimated fair value of $20,665,000 includes $15,467,000 in cash paid to acquire the remaining 75% interest in Morningstar Denmark. The following table summarizes our preliminary allocation of the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
The preliminary fair value allocation includes $9,066,000 of acquired intangible assets, consisting primarily of customer-related assets and technology-based assets, including software and databases. We recognized a deferred tax liability of $2,307,000 mainly because the amortization expense related to certain intangible assets is not deductible for income tax purposes.
Goodwill of $13,347,000 represents the premium over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired with this acquisition. We paid this premium for a number of reasons, including the opportunity to offer Morningstars full suite of products and services to investors in Denmark, and further leveraging Morningstars global reach, investment databases, and technology expertise.
Seeds Group (Seeds)
In July 2010, we acquired Seeds Group, a leading provider of investment consulting services and fund research in France. Through its subsidiary Seeds Finance, Seeds provides investment consulting services and specializes in asset liability management, manager selection, plan construction, risk, and portfolio management in alternative investments and active strategies. Its subsidiary, Multiratings.com, provides a fund research and investment education website for advisor groups and institutions. Terms were not disclosed. The acquisition did not have a significant effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
Realpoint, LLC
In May 2010, we acquired Realpoint, LLC (Realpoint) a Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization (NRSRO) that specializes in structured finance. Realpoint offers securities ratings, research, surveillance services, and data to help institutional investors identify credit risk in commercial mortgage-backed securities. Institutional investment firms subscribe to Realpoints ratings and analytics, including money managers who invest in commercial mortgage-backed securities.
In conjunction with this acquisition, we paid $38,423,000 in cash, net of cash acquired, and issued 199,174 shares of restricted stock to the selling employee-shareholders. As a result of the terms of the restricted share agreements, in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, we account for these grants as stock-based compensation expense, and not as part of the acquisition consideration. See Note 9 in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information concerning the accounting for this restricted stock.
The following table summarizes our preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
The preliminary allocation includes $19,959,000 of acquired intangible assets. These assets primarily include customer-related assets and technology-based assets, including software and databases.
Goodwill of $24,259,000 represents the premium we paid over the fair value of the acquired net tangible and intangible assets. We paid this premium for a number of reasons, including the opportunity for Morningstar to enter into the structured finance ratings and analysis business.
The value assigned to goodwill, intangible assets, and restricted shares at the date of grant are deductible for income tax purposes over a period of approximately 15 years from the acquisition date.
Old Broad Street Research Ltd
In April 2010, we acquired Old Broad Street Research Ltd. (OBSR) for $16,754,000 in cash, net of cash acquired. OBSR is a premier provider of fund research, ratings, and investment consulting services in the United Kingdom, and offers an array of customized consulting services including model portfolios, advice on fund construction, and corporate governance services, that are used by many of the leading financial advisers and fund platforms.
The following table summarizes our preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The purchase price allocation is preliminary pending certain tax related matters, including the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities at the date of acquisition.
The preliminary allocation includes $9,312,000 of acquired intangible assets. These assets primarily include customer-related assets and technology-based assets, including software and databases.
Goodwill of $11,396,000 represents the premium we paid over the fair value of the acquired net tangible and intangible assets. We paid this premium for a number of reasons, including the strategic benefit of adding to our existing fund research team in London and continuing to build our thought leadership in investment research. OBSR will also help us expand our investment consulting presence in the United Kingdom, where we already provide asset allocation, manager selection, and portfolio construction services to institutions and intermediaries. The goodwill we recorded is not considered deductible for income tax purposes.
Aegis Equities Research
In April 2010, we acquired Aegis Equities Research, a leading provider of independent equity research in Australia, for $10,717,000 in cash, net of cash acquired. The following table summarizes our preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
The preliminary allocation includes $5,100,000 of acquired intangible assets. These assets primarily include customer-related assets and technology-based assets, including software and databases. Goodwill of $6,235,000 represents the premium we paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired with this acquisition. We paid this premium for a number of reasons, including the strategic benefits of creating a larger analyst team that will enable us to expand our coverage of Australian-listed companies, provide Australian clients with more robust independent research, and give us the potential to expand our services in multiple delivery channels. We are in the process of determining what portion of the value assigned to goodwill and intangible assets, if any, is deductible for income tax purposes.
Footnoted business of Financial Fineprint Inc.
In February 2010, we acquired the Footnoted business of Financial Fineprint Inc. (Footnoted), a blog for professional money managers, analysts, and individual investors. Footnoted Pro, a service for institutional investors, provides insight on actionable items and trends in SEC filings. The acquisition includes the Footnoted.org website and the Footnoted Pro service. Terms were not disclosed. The acquisition did not have a significant effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
2009 Acquisitions
The table below summarizes the six acquisitions we completed in 2009:
* Total purchase price less cash acquired, subject to post-closing adjustments.
As of September 30, 2010, we did not make any significant changes to the purchase price allocations for the acquisitions that occurred in 2009. Certain of these purchase price allocations, primarily the purchase price allocation related to Logical Information Machines, Inc. are preliminary, pending resolution of certain tax and other matters. Additional information concerning the six acquisitions completed in 2009 can be found in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010.
Pro Forma Information for 2010 and 2009 Acquisitions
The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 as if we had completed the 2010 and 2009 acquisitions and had consolidated Morningstar Korea and Morningstar Denmark, as of January 1 of each of these years. In calculating the pro forma information below, we included an estimate of amortization expense related to the intangible assets acquired.
Goodwill
The following table shows the changes in our goodwill balances from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010:
We did not record any impairment losses in the third quarter or year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, respectively. We perform our annual impairment reviews in the fourth quarter.
The following table summarizes our intangible assets:
The following table summarizes our amortization expense related to intangible assets:
We amortize intangible assets using the straight-line method over their expected economic useful lives.
Based on acquisitions completed through September 30, 2010, we expect intangible amortization expense for 2010 and subsequent years as follows:
Our estimates of future amortization expense for intangible assets may be affected by changes to the preliminary purchase price allocations, additional acquisitions, and currency translations. |
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5. Segment and Geographical Area Information
Morningstar has two operating segments:
· Investment Information. The Investment Information segment includes all of our data, software, and research products and services. These products are typically sold through subscriptions or license agreements.
The largest products in this segment based on revenue are Licensed Data, Morningstar Advisor Workstation, Morningstar.com, Morningstar Direct, and Morningstar Principia. Licensed Data is a set of investment data spanning all of our investment databases, including real-time pricing data, and is available through electronic data feeds. Advisor Workstation is a web-based investment planning system for advisors. Advisor Workstation is available in two editions: Morningstar Office for independent financial advisors and an enterprise edition for financial advisors affiliated with larger firms. Morningstar.com includes both Premium Memberships and Internet advertising sales. Morningstar Direct is a web-based institutional research platform. Principia is our CD-ROM-based investment research and planning software for advisors.
The Investment Information segment also includes Morningstar Equity Research, which we distribute through several channels. From June 2004 through July 2009, our equity research was distributed through six major investment banks to meet the requirements for independent research under the Global Analyst Research Settlement. The period covered by the Global Analyst Research Settlement expired at the end of July 2009. The banks covered by it are no longer required to provide independent research to their clients. We also sell Equity Research to other companies that purchase our research for their own use or provide our research to their affiliated advisors or individual investor clients.
· Investment Management. The Investment Management segment includes all of our asset management operations, which earn the majority of their revenue from asset-based fees.
The key products and services in this segment based on revenue are Investment Consulting, which focuses on investment monitoring and asset allocation for funds of funds, including mutual funds and variable annuities; Retirement Advice, including the Morningstar Retirement Manager and Advice by Ibbotson platforms; and Morningstar Managed Portfolios, a fee-based discretionary asset management service that includes a series of mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, and stock portfolios tailored to meet a range of investment time horizons, risk levels, and investment strategies that financial advisors can use for their clients taxable and tax-deferred accounts.
Our segment accounting policies are the same as those described in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of December 31, 2009, except for the capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions. We exclude these items from our operating segment results to provide our chief operating decision maker with a better indication of each segments ability to generate cash flow. This information is one of the criteria used by our chief operating decision maker in determining how to allocate resources to each segment. We include capitalization and amortization of internal product development costs, amortization of intangible assets, and costs related to corporate functions in the Corporate Items category to arrive at the consolidated financial information. Our segment disclosures are consistent with the business segment information provided to our chief operating decision maker on a recurring basis; for that reason, we dont present balance sheet information by segment. We disclose goodwill by segment in accordance with the requirements of FASB ASC 350-20-50, Intangibles - Goodwill - Disclosure.
The following tables show selected segment data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
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6. Investments and Fair Value Measurements
We account for our investments in accordance with FASB ASC 320, InvestmentsDebt and Equity Securities. We classify our investments in three categories: available-for-sale, held-to-maturity, and trading. We monitor the concentration, diversification, maturity, and liquidity of our investment portfolio, which is primarily invested in fixed-income securities, and classify our investment portfolio as shown below:
The following table shows the cost, unrealized gains (losses), and fair values related to investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity:
As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, investments with unrealized losses for greater than a 12-month period were not material to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and were not deemed to have other than temporary declines in value.
The table below shows the cost and fair value of investments classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity based on their contractual maturities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The expected maturities of certain fixed-income securities may differ from their contractual maturities because some of these holdings have call features that allow the issuers the right to prepay obligations without penalties.
Held-to-maturity investments include a $1,600,000 certificate of deposit held as collateral against two bank guarantees for our office lease in Australia.
The following table shows the realized gains and losses arising from sales of our investments classified as available-for-sale recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:
The following table shows the net unrealized gains (losses) on trading securities as recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:
The fair value of our assets subject to fair value measurements and the necessary disclosures are as follows:
We did not transfer any investments between levels of the fair value hierarchy in the first nine months of 2010 or 2009. Based on our analysis of the nature and risks of our investments in equity securities and mutual funds, we have determined that presenting these investment categories each in the aggregate is appropriate. |
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7. Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Our investments in unconsolidated entities consist primarily of the following:
Morningstar Japan K.K. Morningstar Japan K.K. (MJKK) develops and markets products and services customized for the Japanese market. MJKKs shares are traded on the Osaka Stock Exchange, Hercules Market, using the ticker 4765. We account for our investment in MJKK using the equity method. The following table summarizes our ownership percentage in MJKK and the market value of this investment based on MJKKs publicly quoted share price:
Other Equity Method Investments. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, other equity method investments include our investment in Morningstar Sweden AB (Morningstar Sweden). Morningstar Sweden develops and markets products and services customized for their respective market. Our ownership interest in Morningstar Sweden was approximately 24% as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
As of December 31, 2009, other equity-method investments also included our investment in Morningstar Danmark A/S (Morningstar Denmark). Our ownership interest and profit-and loss-sharing interest in Morningstar Denmark was 25% at that date. In July 2010, we acquired an additional 75% ownership in Morningstar Denmark, increasing our ownership interest to 100%. Upon acquiring the majority ownership, we recorded a preliminary holding gain of $5,073,000. This gain represents the difference between the estimated fair value and the book value of our investment in Morningstar Denmark at the date of acquisition. Because Morningstar Denmark is now a wholly-owned subsidiary, we no longer account for our investment using the equity method. Beginning in July 2010, we consolidate the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of Morningstar Denmark in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Cost Method Investments. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, our cost method investments consist mainly of minority investments in Pitchbook Data, Inc. (Pitchbook) and Bundle Corporation (Bundle). Pitchbook offers detailed data and information about private equity transactions, investors, companies, limited partners, and service providers. Bundle is a social media company dedicated to helping people make smarter spending and saving choices. Its website, Bundle.com, features a money comparison tool that shows spending trends across the United States, along with a range of information on saving, investing, and budgeting. We did not record any impairment losses on our cost method investments in the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, respectively. |
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8. Liability for Vacant Office Space
The following table shows the change in our liability for vacant office space from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010:
In the first nine months of 2010, we increased our liability for vacant office space for the former Ibbotson headquarters because we finalized sub-lease arrangements for a portion of this space. In addition, we increased our liability for vacant office space related to the equity research and data business acquired from C.P.M.S. We recorded the increases in the liability as an operating expense in the first nine months of 2010. |
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9. Stock-Based Compensation
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
In November 2004, we adopted the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. The 2004 Stock Incentive Plan provides for grants of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, and performance shares. All of our employees and our non-employee directors are eligible for awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Joe Mansueto, our chairman and chief executive officer, does not participate in the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or prior plans.
Since the adoption of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, we have granted stock options and, beginning in 2006, restricted stock units.
Restricted stock units represent the right to receive a share of Morningstar common stock when that unit vests. Restricted stock units granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan generally vest ratably over a four-year period. For restricted stock units granted through December 31, 2008, employees could elect to defer receipt of the Morningstar common stock issued upon vesting of the restricted stock unit. Stock options granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan generally vest ratably over a four-year period and expire 10 years after the date of grant. Almost all of the options granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan have a premium feature in which the exercise price increases over the term of the option at a rate equal to the 10-year Treasury bond yield as of the date of grant.
The following table summarizes the number of shares available for future grants under our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan:
Prior to November 2004, we granted stock options under various plans, including the 1993 Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Morningstar Stock Option Plan, and the 2001 Morningstar Stock Option Plan (collectively, the Prior Plans). The 2004 Stock Incentive Plan amends and restates the Prior Plans. Under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, we will not grant any additional options under any of the Prior Plans, and any shares subject to an award under any of the Prior Plans that are forfeited, canceled, settled, or otherwise terminated without a distribution of shares, or withheld by us in connection with the exercise of options or in payment of any required income tax withholding, will not be available for awards under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.
All options granted under the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and the Prior Plans were vested as of January 1, 2010; however, because the options under these plans expire 10 years after the date of grant, some options granted under these plans remain outstanding as of September 30, 2010.
Restricted Stock
In conjunction with the Realpoint acquisition in May 2010, we issued 199,174 shares of restricted stock to the selling employee-shareholders. The restricted stock vests ratably over a five-year period from the acquisition date and may be subject to forfeiture if the holder terminates his or her employment during the vesting period. Because of the terms of the restricted share agreements, in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, we account for these grants as stock-based compensation expense, and not as part of the acquisition consideration. See Note 3, in the Notes to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, for additional information concerning the Realpoint acquisition.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Awards
The following table summarizes our stock-based compensation expense and the related income tax benefit we recorded in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
In accordance with FASB ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, we estimate forfeitures of employee stock-based awards and recognize compensation cost only for those awards expected to vest. Because our largest annual equity grants typically have vesting dates in the second quarter, we adjust the stock-based compensation expense at that time to reflect those awards that ultimately vested and update our estimate of the forfeiture rate that will be applied to awards not yet vested. In the second quarter of 2010 and 2009, we recorded approximately $228,000 and $299,000, respectively, of additional stock-based compensation expense as a result of these adjustments.
Restricted Stock Units
We measure the fair value of our restricted stock units on the date of grant based on the closing market price of the underlying common stock on the day prior to grant. We amortize that value to stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period. The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity during the first nine months of 2010:
As of September 30, 2010, the total amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock units was approximately $29,516,000. We expect to recognize this expense over an average period of approximately 34 months.
Restricted Stock
We measured the fair value of the restricted stock on the date of grant based on the closing market price of our common stock on the day prior to the grant. We amortize this value to stock-based compensation expense ratably over the vesting period. We have assumed that all of the restricted stock will ultimately vest, and therefore we have not incorporated a forfeiture rate for purposes of determining the stock-based compensation expense.
As of September 30, 2010, the total amount of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock was approximately $8,583,000. We expect to recognize this expense over 55 months, from October 2010 through April 2015.
Stock Option Activity
The following tables summarize stock option activity in the first nine months of 2010 for our various stock option grants. The first table includes activity for options granted at an exercise price below the fair value per share of our common stock on the grant date; the second table includes activity for all other option grants.
The following table summarizes the total intrinsic value (difference between the market value of our stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the option) of options exercised:
All outstanding options were vested and exercisable as of January 1, 2010. The table below shows additional information for options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 2010:
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value all option holders would have received if they had exercised all outstanding options on September 30, 2010. The intrinsic value is based on our closing stock price of $44.56 on that date.
As of September 30, 2010, there was no unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options.
Excess Tax Benefits Related to Stock-Based Compensation
FASB ASC 718, CompensationStock Compensation, requires that we classify the cash flows that result from excess tax benefits as financing cash flows. Excess tax benefits correspond to the portion of the tax deduction taken on our income tax return that exceeds the amount of tax benefit related to the compensation cost recognized in our Statement of Income. The following table summarizes our excess tax benefits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
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10. Related Party Transactions
In 2009, we determined that certain incentive stock options (ISOs) granted to one former and two current executives, including Tao Huang, our chief operating officer, should have been treated as non-qualified stock options (NQSOs) for the executives and our income tax purposes. In the fourth quarter of 2009, we recorded an operating expense of $4,887,000 related to adjusting the tax treatment of these stock options that were originally considered ISOs. In the first quarter of 2010, we paid these individuals $4,887,000 to compensate for the difference in tax treatment. |
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11. Income Taxes
The following table shows our effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
Our effective tax rate increased 7.7 percentage points in the third quarter of 2010 and 3.3 percentage points for the year-to-date period. Income tax expense in the quarter includes $5,773,000 of non-cash income tax expense, including $1,883,000 related to the preliminary gain we recorded upon the acquisition of Morningstar Denmark and $3,890,000 of non-cash income tax expense for prior periods related to Morningstars share of earnings in equity method investments, primarily MJKK. These items increased the effective tax rate by approximately 11 percentage points in the quarter and 4 percentage points for the year-to-date period. In the third quarter of 2010 we also recorded a $3,821,000 deferred tax liability, and a corresponding reduction to additional paid-in capital related to our investment in MJKK. The deferred tax liability arises from the difference between the book basis and tax basis of our investment in MJKK. This adjustment did not impact our effective tax rate for either period in 2010.
Our effective tax rates for the third quarter and nine-month periods in 2009 were favorably affected by a variety of items that did not recur in 2010. In the third quarter of 2009, we recognized $2,100,000 of tax credits from previous years. These tax credits reduced our tax rate by approximately 6 percentage points in the third quarter and 2 percentage points in the first nine months of 2009. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2009 also reflects the favorable impact of reversing $2,145,000 in reserves for uncertain tax positions. These items were partially offset by the impact of the non-deductible deposit penalty expense, which increased our year-to-date effective tax rate by approximately 1.3 percentage points.
We conduct business globally and as a result, we file income tax returns in U.S. Federal, state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business we are subject to examination by tax authorities throughout the world. The open tax years for our U.S. Federal tax return include the years 2007 to the present. Most of our state tax returns have open tax years from 2006 to the present. In non-U.S. jurisdictions, the statute of limitations generally extends to years prior to 2003.
There were no significant changes to uncertain tax positions in the third quarter of 2010 as a result of other lapses of statutes of limitation or audit activity. As of December 31, 2009, our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet included a current liability of $981,000 and a non-current liability of $5,369,000 for unrecognized tax benefits. These amounts include interest and penalties, less any associated tax benefits.
We are currently under audit by various state and local tax authorities in the United States. We are also under audit by the tax authorities in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. It is likely that the examination phase of some of these state, local, and non-U.S. audits will conclude in 2010. It is not possible to estimate the impact of current audits on previously recorded unrecognized tax benefits.
Our effective tax rate reflects the fact that we are not recording an income tax benefit related to losses recorded by certain of our non-U.S. operations. The net operating losses (NOLs) may become deductible in certain non-U.S. tax jurisdictions to the extent these non-U.S. operations become profitable. In the year certain non-U.S. entities record a loss, we do not record a corresponding tax benefit, thus increasing our effective tax rate. For each of our operations, we evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the tax benefits related to NOLs will be realized. As part of this evaluation, we consider evidence such as tax planning strategies, historical operating results, forecasted taxable income, and recent financial performance. Upon determining that it is more likely than not that the NOLs will be realized, we reduce the tax valuation allowances related to these NOLs, which results in a reduction to our income tax expense and our effective tax rate in the period. |
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12. Contingencies
Egan-Jones Rating Co.
In June 2010, Egan-Jones Rating Co. filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania against Realpoint LLC and Morningstar, Inc. in connection with a December 2007 agreement between Egan-Jones and Realpoint for certain data sharing and other services. In addition to damages, Egan-Jones filed a petition seeking an injunction to temporarily prevent Morningstar from offering corporate credit ratings. In September 2010, the court denied Egan-Joness request for a preliminary injunction against Morningstars corporate credit ratings business. Realpoint and Morningstar continue to vigorously contest liability on all of Egan-Jones claims for damages. We cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.
Aloft Media, LLC
In June 2010, Aloft Media, LLC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Morningstar, Inc. and several other companies alleging that each defendant infringes U.S. Patent No. 7,593,910 and 7,596,538 which purports to relate to a computer-based platform that supports a decision making process. In October 2010, Morningstar and Aloft Media entered into a license agreement covering, among other things, those patents. The license agreement resolves the litigation. All other settlement terms are confidential.
Business Logic Holding Corporation
In November 2009, Business Logic Holding Corporation filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois against Ibbotson Associates, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc. relating to Ibbotsons prior commercial relationship with Business Logic. Business Logic is alleging that Ibbotson Associates and Morningstar violated Business Logics rights by using its trade secrets to develop a proprietary web-service software and user interface that connects plan participant data with the Ibbotson Wealth Forecasting Engine. Business Logic seeks, among other things, injunctive relief and unspecified damages. Ibbotson and Morningstar answered the complaint, and Ibbotson asserted a counterclaim against Business Logic alleging trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract, seeking damages and injunctive relief. While Morningstar and Ibbotson Associates are vigorously contesting the claims against them, we cannot predict the outcome of the proceeding.
Online News Link LLC
In October 2009, Online News Link LLC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Morningstar, Inc. and several other providers of online information alleging that each defendant infringes U.S. Patent No. 7,508,789, which relates to ways for delivering online information. In July 2010, Morningstar and Online News Link entered into a license agreement covering patents relating to, among other things, the delivery of news content via electronic mail with links to additional content. The license agreement resolves the litigation. All other settlement terms are confidential.
Morningstar Associates, LLC Subpoena from the New York Attorney Generals Office
In December 2004, Morningstar Associates, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc., received a subpoena from the New York Attorney Generals office seeking information and documents related to an investigation the New York Attorney Generals office is conducting. The subpoena asks for documents relating to the investment consulting services the company offers to retirement plan providers, including fund lineup recommendations for retirement plan sponsors. Morningstar Associates has provided the requested information and documents.
In 2005, Morningstar Associates received subpoenas seeking information and documents related to investigations being conducted by the SEC and United States Department of Labor. The subpoenas were similar in scope to the New York Attorney General subpoena. In January 2007 and September 2009, respectively, the SEC and Department of Labor each notified Morningstar Associates that it had ended its investigation, with no enforcement action, fines, or penalties.
In January 2007, Morningstar Associates received a Notice of Proposed Litigation from the New York Attorney Generals office. The Notice centers on disclosure relating to an optional service offered to retirement plan sponsors (employers) that select 401(k) plan services from ING, one of Morningstar Associates clients. The Notice gave Morningstar Associates the opportunity to explain why the New York Attorney Generals office should not institute proceedings. Morningstar Associates promptly submitted its explanation and has cooperated fully with the New York Attorney Generals office.
We cannot predict the scope, timing, or outcome of this matter, which may include the institution of administrative, civil, injunctive, or criminal proceedings, the imposition of fines and penalties, and other remedies and sanctions, any of which could lead to an adverse impact on our stock price, the inability to attract or retain key employees, and the loss of customers. We also cannot predict what impact, if any, this matter may have on our business, operating results, or financial condition.
In addition to these proceedings, we are involved in legal proceedings and litigation that have arisen in the normal course of our business. Although the outcome of a particular proceeding can never be predicted, we do not believe that the result of any of these other matters will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, or financial condition. |
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14. Subsequent Event
In November 2010, we acquired the annuity intelligence business of Advanced Sales and Marketing Corp., based in Illinois. The purchase price is $14.1 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. We acquired the Annuity Intelligence Report (AI Report), a web-based service that helps broker-dealers, insurers, and the financial professionals they support better understand and more effectively present variable annuity products to their clients. The AI Report service leverages a proprietary database of more than 1,000 variable annuities that includes plain-English translations of complex but important information found in prospectuses and other public filings. |
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15. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements. ASU 2009-13 supersedes EITF Issue 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. ASU 2009-13 establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements when a vendor performs multiple revenue-generating activities, addresses how to separate deliverables, and how to measure and allocate arrangement consideration. Vendors often provide multiple products or services to customers. Because products and services are often provided at different points in time or over different time periods within the same contractual arrangement, this guidance enables vendors to account for products or services separately rather than as a combined unit.
Also in October 2009, the FASB issued ASU No. 2009-14, Software (Topic 985): Certain Revenue Arrangements That Include Software Elements, and affects vendors that sell or lease tangible products in an arrangement that contains software that is more than incidental to the tangible product as a whole. ASU No. 2009-14 does not affect software revenue arrangements that do not include tangible products and also does not affect software revenue arrangements that include services if the software is essential to the functionality of those services.
For Morningstar, ASU No. 2009-13 and ASU No. 2009-14 will be effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into from January 1, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. We are in the process of determining the impact, if any, these accounting standard updates will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820) Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. ASU No. 2010-06 requires entities to disclose information in the Level 3 rollforward about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis. For Morningstar, the requirement to separately disclose purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the Level 3 rollforward will be effective for our 2011 Consolidated Financial Statements. We are in the process of determining the impact, if any, this accounting pronouncement will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. |
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