Contract Services Agreement, dated February 1, 2023, between Morningstar, Inc. and Bevin Desmond

Exhibit 10.1

CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Contract Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is made by and between Morningstar, Inc. and Bevin Desmond ("Contractor") as of this 1st day of February, 2023.

Contractor is hereby retained to perform the specific services identified in Exhibit A hereto (hereafter, the “Services”). Contractor agrees to devote such skill, labor and attention as is required to carry out the Services and such other services as are agreed to from time to time by the parties in a good and workmanlike manner consistent with good industry practices.

The Services performed by Contractor will be completed no later than March 31, 2023 or by such other date as is mutually agreed to, in writing.

For all Services satisfactorily rendered by Contractor under this Agreement, Morningstar shall pay Contractor at the rate of $350 dollars per hour (or such other amount as is mutually agreed to, in writing, from time to time). Fees will be billed monthly by submission of a proper invoice to Morningstar documenting in reasonable detail Contractor's actual time incurred in performing the Services. Invoices will be paid within 30 days of receipt of the invoice from the Contractor. Contractor shall be responsible for payment of all taxes in connection with performance of the Services and the receipt of compensation under this Agreement.

Contractor shall be responsible for the provision of routine supplies and payment of routine expenses incurred in connection with providing services under this Agreement. Reasonable non-routine expenses incurred on behalf of Morningstar, such as out-of-town travel and long-distance telephone charges, and that are pre-approved by Kunal Kapoor and for which appropriate documentation is provided by Contractor, will be reimbursed in due course as incurred.

Contractor is retained by Morningstar only for the purposes and to the extent set forth in this Agreement, and nothing in this Agreement shall be considered to create the relationship of employer and employee between the parties. Contractor shall be deemed at all times to be an independent contractor and neither party has the authority to bind the other to any third person or to otherwise act in any way as the representative of the other, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing signed by both parties hereto. Contractor is not an employee of Morningstar and is not entitled to any pay, benefits or other perquisites of employment that may be provided to Morningstar employees.

It is understood and agreed that Contractor has full dominion and control over the means by which the Services are performed under this Agreement and that any approval by Morningstar of plans, methods or techniques or evaluation of the quality of the Services being provided shall not be construed to alter Contractor’s status.

Contractor may undertake for remuneration such other work, contracts or arrangements as the Contractor deems desirable provided that it does not interfere with the provision of Services under this Agreement or conflict with the interests of Morningstar.

Contractor agrees to indemnify and hold Morningstar and any of it employees, owners, and officers harmless from any and all claims, actions or causes of action of any type or arising from any source which relates in any way to the provision of Services under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the payment of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

a)             Performance Covenant: Contractor covenants that he/she will perform the Services in a good and workmanlike manner consistent with good industry practices, and to comply with pertinent provisions of Morningstar’s Code of Ethics and other key policies in his/her performance of the Services.

b)             Restrictive Covenants: Contractor acknowledges and agrees that the covenants described in this paragraph are essential terms of this Agreement, that they are necessary for the protection of the business interests of Morningstar and that they do not place undue restraint on Contractor’s livelihood:

Non-Disclosure of Confidential Information. Contractor agrees not to use or disclose to a third party any Confidential Information concerning the business affairs of Morningstar, its affiliates, their employees or customers without Morningstar’s prior written consent, unless required to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction. Contractor further agrees, upon termination of this Agreement or at Morningstar’s request, to destroy all Morningstar Confidential Information so that it is physically or virtually irrecoverable. Finally, Contractor agrees to use the same means it uses to protect the secrecy and confidentiality of its own confidential and proprietary information to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of Morningstar’s Confidential Information and, in any event, to use no less than a reasonable degree of care.

Morningstar Property. Contractor agrees that all work product produced by Contractor or its agents in conjunction with the Services is the property of Morningstar and that Morningstar has the sole right to copyright or otherwise protect and secure such property.

Business Opportunities. Contractor agrees that all business opportunities relating to the Services or of which Contractor becomes aware as a result of its performance of the Services are the property of Morningstar and that Contractor will not pursue such business opportunities for Contractor’s own account without first obtaining the written consent of Morningstar.

Non-Solicitation. Contractor agrees that, during the term of this Agreement and for a period of one year thereafter, Contractor will not solicit any employee of Morningstar to cease employment or services for Morningstar.

Contractor acknowledges that full compliance with all of these restrictive covenants is necessary to enable Morningstar to do business with its customers and that Contractor’s failure to comply with them will damage Morningstar in a manner for which there will be no adequate remedy at law. Therefore, in the event of a breach of any of these restrictive covenants, Contractor acknowledges and agrees that Morningstar shall be entitled to injunctive relief, regardless of whether or not Morningstar has complied with this Agreement, and Morningstar shall further be entitled to such other relief, including money damages, as may be deemed appropriate by a court of competent jurisdiction or an arbitrator. In the event of a court action based upon an alleged breach of any of these covenants, the prevailing party (as determined by court ruling on the merits of the dispute) will be reimbursed by the other party for reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred as a result of the dispute. If any court should at any time find any one of these covenants to be unenforceable or unreasonable as to scope, territory or period of time, then the scope, territory or period of time of the covenant shall be that determined by the court to be reasonable, and the parties hereby agree that the court has the authority to so modify any of these covenants as necessary to make the covenant enforceable.

9.             AUTHORIZATION.

Contractor does not have authority to bind Morningstar to any contracts or commitments without prior approval of Kunal Kapoor or Marie Trzupek Lynch or his/her designated representative and agrees not to create any such obligation for Morningstar or bind or attempt to bind Morningstar in such manner.

10.          GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and enforced under the laws of the State of Illinois. The parties irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois.

11.          SEVERABILITY

The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed separable, so that if any term or provision is deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, such term or provision shall be deemed deleted or modified so as to be valid and enforceable to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

12.           ENTIRE AGREEMENT

The terms of this Agreement constitute the entire agreement between Contractor and Morningstar, and supersede any prior agreement, whether oral or written, between Contractor and Morningstar with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any amendment or modification hereto must be made in writing.

13.           WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

In the event of any dispute between Morningstar and Contractor that lead to litigation, the parties hereby expressly waive any right to trial by jury.

14.           TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE

This Agreement may be terminated by either party for any reason by giving at least thirty (30) days written notice of termination to the other party. Upon the effective date of termination, Contractor shall promptly cease performing the Services, immediately provide all notes, documentation and related materials associated with the Services to Morningstar, and repay to Morningstar any prepaid but unaccrued fees and/or expenses; and Morningstar shall promptly pay Contractor for any undisputed fees and/or expenses outstanding as of the date of that termination.

15.           TERMINATION WITH CAUSE

Morningstar may terminate this contract immediately upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) breach by Contractor of any of his/her duties or obligations hereunder; or (ii) Contractor’s misconduct or violation of Morningstar’s policies. Upon the effective date of termination, Contractor shall promptly cease performing the Services, immediately provide all notes, documentation and related materials associated with the Services to Morningstar, and repay to Morningstar any prepaid but unaccrued fees and/or expenses; and Morningstar shall promptly pay Contractor for any undisputed fees and/or expenses outstanding as of the date of that termination.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Contractor has executed this Agreement and Morningstar has caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year above written.