, 18 January 2005: Global index providers Dow Jones Indexes and FTSE Group today announced that their new joint classification system, the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB), is now available. The ICB is embodied in a new and innovative classification database, covering 40,000 companies and 45,000 securities world-wide to represent a true global classification solution. It offers investors and the securities industry the most comprehensive and seamless classification system available, and serves as a versatile tool for global sector analysis.

The two companies also announced the appointment of James Cemprola as managing director of the new business. Mr. Cemprola, brings with him more than 12 years of financial-services experience, most recently with Thomson Financial in New York.

More information on ICB is available on a new website: http://www.icbenchmark.com