Moody’s Analytics launched its office at DIFC

Launch of DIFC (UAE) office reinforces commitment to Middle East

Moody’s Analytics, a leading provider of risk management solutions to the banking and capital markets, today announced the formal launch of its office at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Moody’s Analytics’ presence in the Middle East underscores our commitment to the region, where we serve close to 100 customers,” says Mark Almeida, Moody’s Analytics President.

Moody’s Analytics offers a unique range of risk management and credit decision-making tools, designed to cover market participants’ needs across the credit spectrum. Its offering includes diverse data sets and quantitative risk scoring capabilities; authoritative research and analysis of credit risk and economic trends; and professional training services in a wide range of finance disciplines. Moody’s Analytics’ customers in the Middle East make extensive use of the firm’s credit risk scoring and loan origination tools as well as its regulatory and economic capital management solutions.

Welcoming Moody’s Analytics to the Dubai International Financial Centre, Abdulla Al Awar, Managing Director of DIFC Authority said: “The global financial crisis has shown the critical importance of comprehensive risk management and credit decision making in the financial services industry. The expertise provided by firms like Moody’s Analytics will help financial firms in the region develop sound credit decision-making and risk management frameworks. We look forward to providing Moody’s Analytics with the support necessary to firmly establish their operations in the region.”

“Having already gained the trust of institutions around the world, Moody’s Analytics is confident that its award-winning quantitative tools and services can help address the credit risk management and regulatory compliance needs of all market participants in the Middle East,” also says Wael Jadallah, Director of Moody’s Analytics (DIFC) Ltd.

Moody’s Analytics is the sister company of Moody’s Investors Service, the credit rating agency, which already has a separate office in the DIFC. Both Moody’s Analytics and Moody’s Investors Service are subsidiaries of Moody’s Corporation.

About Moody’s Corporation
Moody’s is an essential component of the global capital markets, providing credit ratings, research, tools and analysis that contribute to transparency in financial markets. Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) is the parent company of Moody’s Investors Service, which provides credit ratings and research and Moody’s Analytics, encompassing the growing array of Moody’s credit risk solutions, including quantitative credit measurement and management tools, economic forecasting models, structured finance analytics and software from the recently acquired Fermat, a leading provider of integrated risk and performance management software to the financial industry. The corporation, which reported revenue of $2.3 billion in 2007, employs approximately 3,600 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 29 countries. Further information is available at www.moodys.com.

About DIFC
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. In just four years, over 750 firms have registered at DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards.