Standard & Poor`s Now Includes VantageScore For the Analysis of Loans in LEVELS, its U.S. RMBS Model

STAMFORD, Conn.--(Business Wire)--
Standard & Poor`s Ratings Services recently announced that it has fully
integrated VantageScore into LEVELS 6.6, Standard & Poor`s U.S. mortgage
analytical model. VantageScore is the borrower credit score jointly developed by
the three national credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and
TransUnion).

VantageScore was designed as a benchmark of borrower credit risk and likelihood
of repayment. It is derived using a statistical method based on the borrower`s
credit history and leverages the same algorithm across all three major credit
reporting companies. Its scoring methodology provides lenders with a consistent
interpretation of consumer credit files across all three major credit reporting
companies and the ability to score a broad population.

Standard & Poor`s conducted an analysis of VantageScore to determine whether the
score was an appropriate measure of borrower risk. This independent analysis
found that VantageScore is an acceptable option for Standard & Poor`s in its
ratings analysis for US residential mortgage backed securities.

"With the acceptance of the VantageScore into our model, LEVELS will be able to
offer the market even greater transparency and insight into the performance and
surveillance of RMBS securities," said David Goldstein, Managing Director at
Standard & Poor`s. "It will also provide banks greater flexibility in using
LEVELS as a risk management tool in monitoring their whole loan mortgage
portfolio."

"Standard & Poor`s acceptance of VantageScore further supports the
predictiveness of the score and will provide new insight into the securitized
mortgage loan market," said Barrett Burns, President & CEO, VantageScore
Solutions, LLC.

Standard & Poor's LEVELS is a dynamic risk analytics system that encompasses
residential mortgage loan characteristics, regional economic data and borrower
data. LEVELS analyzes a loan (or pool of loans) and assigns a Standard & Poor's
Risk Grade. At the same time, it determines the foreclosure frequency, loss
severity and credit enhancements required for securitization.

About Standard & Poor`s

Standard & Poor's, 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 more than 140 years in
providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more
confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information,
visit http://www.standardandpoors.com

About VantageScore Solutions

Stamford, Conn.-based VantageScore Solutions, LLC (www.vantagescore.com) is an
independently managed company that holds the intellectual property rights to
VantageScore a new generic scoring model introduced in March 2006. Created by
America`s three major credit reporting companies (CRCs) - Equifax, Experian and
TransUnion - VantageScore`s highly predictive model uses an innovative,
patent-pending scoring methodology to provide lenders with a more consistent
interpretation of consumer credit files across all three major credit reporting
companies and the ability to score more people.

VantageScore Solutions, LLC
Wayne E. Travers Jr., 203-363-2170
waynetravers@vantagescore.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009