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Originally posted Jul. 2, 2024

Updated Aug. 6, 2024, with additional updates

Updated Sept. 6, 2024, with additional updates

Updated Oct. 7, 2024, with additional update and methodology definitions

As part of our semi-annual Morningstar Category review, Morningstar will update our US and international category methodologies effective Oct. 31, 2024.

To learn more about the changes, please see the links below for summary and ID mapping documentation and the attached FAQ for US Retail. The updated methodology documents are now available and linked below.

Please note that the International Category updates for China have changed due to the local regulatory approval being required. As such, only four Chinese category changes will occur on Oct. 31, 2024. These changes are bolded below and have a note and date in the International Category spreadsheet.

• Domicile/Region (Universes):
  • US Retail
    • United States (US Open-End, Variable Annuity, Exchange-Traded Fund, Closed-End Fund, Separate Account, Collective Investment Trust, Unit Investment Trust, 529 Plans and Models): Please see the attached spreadsheet for changes to the US Categories, summarized below.
      • US Retail Categories: See updated Retail Category methodology.
        • 1 new category will be added.
        • 1 existing category will be renamed and have its definition redefined.
        • 8 categories will update their assigned Secondary/Category Index.
        • 1 category will update its assigned Secondary/Category index and have its definition redefined.
        • 12 categories will update their assigned Secondary/Category and Morningstar Index.
        • 2 categories will update their assigned Secondary/Category and Morningstar Index and will have their definition redefined.
• International: Please see the attached spreadsheet for changes to international categories, summarized below.
  • Brazil (Open-End Funds): See updated Brazilian Category methodology.
    • 2 existing categories will update their Broad Category.
  • China (Open-End Funds, Closed End Funds, ETFs): See updated Chinese Category methodology.
    • 2 existing categories will be retired.
    • 2 existing categories will update their Primary & Secondary benchmarks.
  • Europe, Asia, and Africa (Open-End Funds, Closed End Funds, ETFs): See updated European, Asian, and African Category methodology.
    • 10 new categories will be added.
    • 9 existing categories will be renamed.
    • 6 existing categories will be retired.
  • Japan (Open-End Funds, Closed End Funds, ETFs): See updated Japanese Category methodology.
    • 23 categories will be renamed.
    • 12 existing categories will be retired.
    • 2 existing categories will have a calculation change.
    • 1 existing category will update its Broad Category.
  • Mexico (Open-End Funds, Closed End Funds, ETFs): See updated Mexican Category methodology.
    • 1 existing category will be renamed.
  • South Korea (Open-End Funds, ETFs): See updated South Korean Category methodology.
    • 1 existing category will be renamed and have its definition redefined.

Contact Morningstar Support with any questions or additional needs.