OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has announced that, effective Sept. 21, 2016, its ratings have been formally incorporated into the determination of index rating methodology for the FTSE TMX Canada Index Series, which provide credit market benchmarks broadly tracked by ETFs, asset owners, mutual funds, and segregated accounts.

FTSE TMX is part of global index provider FTSE Russell, which provides several leading fixed income market benchmarks across the globe. In Canada, FTSE TMX also provides clients with a leading fixed income portfolio analytics platform since 1985, and is the most widely utilized source of bond valuations for the broad Canadian fixed income market.

Fitch is recognized in Canada as a global leader in credit ratings and research and for its local expertise across all major sectors in Canada including Corporate, Structured Finance, Financial Institutions, Public Finance, Infrastructure, and Project Finance. Fitch established its Canadian operations over two decades ago and now has ratings across all sectors including financial institutions, structured finance, corporate issuers, project finance, provinces and sovereign.

'The FTSE-TMX indexes are the preeminent fixed income indexes for Canada,' said Mark Oline, Global Head of Business Development for Fitch Ratings. 'The addition of Fitch to the FTSE TMX Canada Index Series methodology is an important milestone. As international investors look at investing in Canadian assets and Canadian issuers tap global capital markets, Fitch's expert analysis, research and commentary will play an important role in this process.'

About Fitch Ratings

Fitch Ratings is a leading provider of credit ratings, commentary and research. Dedicated to providing value beyond the rating through independent and prospective credit opinions, Fitch Ratings offers global perspectives shaped by strong local market experience and credit market expertise. The additional context, perspective and insights we provide help investors to make important credit judgments with confidence.

Fitch Group is a global leader in financial information services with operations in more than 30 countries. Fitch Group is comprised of: Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit ratings and research; Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of credit market data, analytical tools and risk services; BMI Research, an independent provider of country risk and industry analysis specializing in emerging and frontier markets; and Fitch Learning, a preeminent training and professional development firm. With dual headquarters in London and New York, Fitch Group is majority owned by Hearst. For additional information, please visit www. fitchratings. com.

About FTSE Russell:

FTSE TMX is part of FTSE Russell, a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $10 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes.

For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance, and embraces the IOSCO principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and client collaboration as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering. FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group.