NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Moody’s Analytics, a unit of Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO), announced
today that it has agreed to acquire WebEquity Solutions, LLC.
(“WebEquity”), a leading provider of cloud-based loan origination
solutions for financial institutions.
The acquisition strengthens Moody’s Analytics’ position as a leader in
loan origination software and bolsters its suite of award-winning risk
management products for banks, insurance companies and corporations.
“WebEquity is a trusted provider of solutions that enable banks to
improve the efficiency of their loan origination process while enhancing
their risk management practices,” said Mark Almeida, President of
Moody’s Analytics. “With its market leading software-as-a-service
offering for community banks, WebEquity expands Moody’s Analytics’
portfolio of risk management solutions. Using multiple technologies,
Moody’s Analytics and WebEquity offer powerful tools that meet the needs
of the entire spectrum of financial institutions, from community banks
to the world’s largest lenders.”
WebEquity’s hosted platform is used by more than 750 banks and credit
unions to originate and manage agriculture, commercial & industrial,
commercial real-estate, small business, construction, and land
development loans. The company’s products support the work of over
20,000 lending professionals in the U.S., Canada and Australia.
“Moody’s Analytics’ strong global reputation and strengths in stress
testing, regulatory reporting and risk analytics will enhance our
products and help extend our offerings to larger financial
institutions,” said Doug McGregor, CEO of WebEquity Solutions.
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, WebEquity was founded in 1985. The company has
approximately 70 employees and produced revenue of nearly $15 million in
2013.
The acquisition will be funded from cash on hand and is expected to be
accretive to Moody’s 2016 EPS before amortization of acquired intangible
assets. Transaction terms were not disclosed. The acquisition is
expected to close in the third quarter.
Financial Technology Partners LP and FTP Securities LLC (together "FT
Partners") acted as exclusive strategic and financial advisors to
WebEquity and its Board of Directors.
ABOUT MOODY'S ANALYTICS
Moody’s Analytics helps capital markets and risk management
professionals worldwide respond to an evolving marketplace with
confidence. The company offers unique tools and best practices for
measuring and managing risk through expertise and experience in credit
analysis, economic research and financial risk management. By providing
leading-edge software, advisory services and research, including the
proprietary analysis of Moody’s Investors Service, Moody’s Analytics
integrates and customizes its offerings to address specific business
challenges. Moody's Analytics is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation
(NYSE: MCO), which reported revenue of $3.0 billion in 2013, employs
approximately 8,500 people worldwide, and has a presence in 31
countries. More information is available at www.moodysanalytics.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995
Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking
statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for
Moody’s business and operations that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Moody's forward-looking statements in this release are
made as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any duty to
supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis,
whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or
otherwise. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company is
identifying certain factors that could cause actual results to differ,
perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking
statements. Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to, the current world-wide credit market disruptions and
economic slowdown, which is affecting and could continue to affect the
volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global
capital markets; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and
other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets,
including credit quality concerns, changes in interest rates and other
volatility in the financial markets; the uncertain effectiveness and
possible collateral consequences of U.S. and foreign government
initiatives to respond to the economic slowdown; concerns in the
marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market
perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent agency ratings;
the introduction of competing products or technologies by other
companies; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the
impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and
local legislation and regulations, including provisions in the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and
anticipated regulations resulting from the law; the potential for
increased competition and regulation in the EU and other foreign
jurisdictions; exposure to litigation related to our rating opinions, as
well as any other litigation to which the Company may be subject from
time to time; provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act legislation modifying the
pleading standards, and EU regulations modifying the liability
standards, applicable to credit rating agencies in a manner adverse to
rating agencies; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional
procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services; the
possible loss of key employees; failures or malfunctions of our
operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or
other cybersecurity concerns; the outcome of any review by controlling
tax authorities of the Company’s global tax planning initiatives; the
outcome of those legacy tax matters and legal contingencies that relate
to the Company, its predecessors and their affiliated companies for
which Moody’s has assumed portions of the financial responsibility; the
ability of the Company to successfully integrate acquired businesses;
currency and foreign exchange volatility; a decline in the demand for
credit risk management tools by financial institutions; and other risk
factors as discussed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2013 and in other filings made by the Company
from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Moody’s Corporation
MEDIA:
Michael Adler, 212-553-4667
Senior
Vice President
Corporate Communications
michael.adler@moodys.com
or
INVESTOR
RELATIONS:
Salli Schwartz, 212-553-4862
Global Head of
Investor Relations
sallilyn.schwartz@moodys.com
Source: Moody’s Corporation