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Indices in this new range are the Euronext Vigeo World 120[1], Euronext Vigeo Europe 120, Euronext Vigeo France 20 and Euronext Vigeo United Kingdom 20, and include major listed companies from Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and North America. Index components are selected on the basis of Vigeo ratings and will be updated twice a year, in May and in November. Two more indices – the first in the United States and the second in the Benelux region – will be added by the end of the first half.

Euronext Vigeo index component stocks are the companies rated highest for control of corporate responsibility risk and contribution to sustainable development. Performance is measured by the Equitics® method pioneered by Vigeo. Ratings are based on 38 criteria including respect for the environment; human rights and recognition of companies’ human capital; relations with stakeholders (clients, suppliers, employees, shareholders, etc.); corporate governance and business ethics; integrity in influencing policy and efforts to fight corruption; and the prevention of social and environmental dumping in the supply and subcontracting chain. Vigeo draws on its existing database to analyse nearly 330 indicators for each company.

“NYSE Euronext is introducing this new range of indices in response to rising demand for responsible investment. Investors seeking long-term profits built on sustainable development are convinced that incorporating extra-financial criteria into research gives a better global view of company risk,” says Fabrice Rahmouni, responsible for market indices at NYSE Euronext. “Building on the high profile and reputation of NYSE Euronext and its partner Vigeo, this range of indices is designed to serve as a true benchmark for fund managers and companies interested not only in measuring their progress and achievements, but also in communicating their commitment to responsible behaviour to employees, shareholders, business partners and customers. For these businesses, the new indices are also a strong differentiator, setting them apart from the competition.”

Fouad Bensedik, Director of Methodology at Vigeo, added, “Thanks to our partnership with NYSE Euronext, our data and opinions on the corporate responsibility of the hundreds of companies we review will now reach a wider audience – financial operators keen to identify companies mastering sustainability risks.”

Note:

1 Vigeo excludes no business sectors and applies no filters based on the activities or products of companies under review, except in cases where such products or activities are prohibited by law or by international treaties.

2 Companies are excluded from these indices if their level of commitment is deemed insufficient based on their overall score or their score in at least one of the areas reviewed by Vigeo. Also excluded are companies that are the subject of serious, proven, or recurring controversies; are seriously implicated in recent, still-unresolved allegations; or are the object of recent court rulings to which the company has reacted by adopting an attitude of denial or by failing to take corrective measures.

3 See appendix for a list of Euronext Vigeo index component stocks. The next revision will take place in May 2013.

For more information:

NYSE Euronext
Caroline Tourrier –ctourrier@nyx.com– +33 1 49 27 10 82

Vigeo
Anita Legrand –anita.legrand@vigeo.com– +33 1 55 82 32 44

About NYSE Euronext
NYSE Euronext (NYX) is a leading global operator of financial markets and provider of innovative trading technologies. The company's exchanges in Europe and the United States trade equities, futures, options, fixed-income and exchange-traded products. With approximately 8,000 listed issues (excluding European Structured Products), NYSE Euronext's equities markets – the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext, NYSE MKT, NYSE Alternext and NYSE Arca – represent one-third of the world's equities trading, the most liquidity of any global exchange group. NYSE Euronext also operates NYSE Liffe, one of the leading European derivatives businesses and the world's second-largest derivatives business by value of trading. The company offers comprehensive commercial technology, connectivity and market data products and services through NYSE Technologies. NYSE Euronext is in the S&P 500 index. For more information, please visit:  http://www.nyx.com.

About  Vigeo
Vigeo is the leading European expert in responsible performance. Founded in 2002 and headed by Nicole Notat, Vigeo measures the performances and risks of more than 2000 companies, local authorities and countries in the world with regard to six areas of social responsibility: the environment, human rights, human resources, business behavior and corporate governance. Vigeo offers two lines of services through two business brands:

Vigeo rating – the way to responsible investment – offers a broad range of products and services to investors seeking sustainable and responsible performance for their investments;

• Vigeo enterprise – the way to responsible management – conducts global CSR audits and benchmarks in organizations of all sizes, public and private; supports teams; and integrates CSR/SRI criteria into business functions and strategic operations.

Vigeo’s rating research meets high quality standards and is externally certified to the Arista® standard. 

Vigeo is present in Paris, Casablanca, Brussels, Milan, London and Tokyo, and has more than a hundred employees.

www.vigeo.com  

Disclaimer
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NYSE Euronext refers to NYSE Euronext and its affiliates and references to NYSE Euronext in this publication include each and any such company as the context dictates. NYSE Euronext, New York Stock Exchange, NYSE MKT, NYSE Alternext, NYSE Arca and NYSE Liffe are registered marks of NYSE Euronext. © 2013, NYSE Euronext – All rights reserved.