UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  March 18, 2010

 

MORNINGSTAR, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Illinois
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

000-51280
(Commission
File Number)

 

36-3297908
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

22 West Washington Street

Chicago, Illinois

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

60602

(Zip Code)

 

(312) 696-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


 

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

 

On March 19, 2010, Morningstar, Inc., an Illinois corporation, issued a press release and posted questions and answers to its corporate website announcing that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Realpoint, LLC, a Nationally Recognized Statistical Ratings Organization that specializes in structured finance, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Include the following information:

 

(d)        Exhibits:

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued March 19, 2010.

99.2

 

Questions and Answers posted March 19, 2010.

 

2


 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

MORNINGSTAR, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: March 19, 2010

By:

/s/ Richard Robbins

 

Name:

Richard Robbins

 

Title:

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

3


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release issued March 19, 2010.

99.2

 

Questions and Answers posted March 19, 2010.

 

4