NYSE Euronext will provide the ASSET4 assetmasterExecutive solution to a number of NYSE-listed companies, enabling them to manage risk, enhance corporate governance practices and increase accountability. This follows a pilot program during which NYSE Euronext-listed issuers successfully incorporated the ASSET4 solution into their corporate responsibility evaluation processes.

"Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have now become very important factors affecting a company's overall performance and risk profile," said Joseph Mecane, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer, U.S. Markets, NYSE Euronext. "ASSET4 can provide corporate leaders a sustainability matrix through which they manage their corporate social responsibility strategies with increased accuracy. We are pleased to work with ASSET4, and our collaboration underscores NYSE Euronext's commitment to providing world-class value-added services to our listed companies."

"Our partnership with NYSE Euronext is a major milestone in the recognition of the increasing impact that ESG issues have on corporate performance and risk," said Peter Ohnemus, CEO and President of ASSET4. "Investors and corporate CEOs understand the need for a new level of transparency in the way they do business and conduct their communications. assetmasterExecutiveTM gives corporate executives, board members, CSR managers, investor relations and corporate communication professionals the ability to monitor and benchmark their own extra-financial performance and risk factors, and in turn prepare them for the new business and regulatory reality that will be emerging in the months and years to come."

NYSE Euronext is the first major stock exchange in the world to offer this tool to its issuers, reinforcing its own commitment to corporate transparency. In 2008, NYSE Euronext was ranked among the "World's Most Ethical Companies" in a survey by Etisphere, the only exchange group in the world to make it into this annual ranking for sustainable, ethical business practices.

Background:

The assetmasterExecutive solution, based on ASSET4's world's largest database of objective and transparent ESG information, enables users to analyse an expanded set of competitive parameters that include their level of carbon risk, board independence and employee satisfaction. With one click of the mouse users can evaluate extra-financial key performance indicator (KPI) configurations (e.g. one based on the Global Reporting Initiative) to monitor how their own company and their peers are performing. In addition, within each standard or customised benchmark the best-in-class company is identified for each KPI, enabling users to see in what areas they may be a leader and where a laggard. Benchmarks can include any of the over 2,600 companies covered by ASSET4.