The Markets January 31, 2008

New S&P India Index Meets Socially Responsible Investing Standards

Standard&Poor’s, CRISIL, and KLD Research&Analytics, a social and environmental research firm, have announced the launch of the S&P ESG India Index.
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The S&P ESG India Index is made up of companies whose business strategies and performance demonstrate a high level of commitment to meeting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

Initiated and sponsored by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank group, it comprises 50 Indian companies that meet certain ESG criteria and have been drawn through a two-stage screening process from the largest 500 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange of India.

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According to a company announcement, the index will provide a model for the launch of similar indexes in other emerging markets.

The S&P ESG India Index will be maintained by India Index Services Ltd., a joint venture between CRISIL and the National Stock Exchange of India.

A detailed methodology and fact sheet on the S&P ESG India Index are available at www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

Deals & People January 31, 2008

Symetra Names New Two New Managers for Group Benefits Business

Bill Boyett and Eric Nelson have been named regional managers for Symetra Financial’s Group division, responsible for working with agents and brokers to market and distribute Symetra’s worksite products.
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Bill Boyett has joined Symetra Financial as the regional group manager for the Carolinas Region. Prior to joining Symetra, Boyett worked closely with brokers distributing health insurance products for eight years with Allstate’s Workplace Division.

Eric Nelson has also joined Symetra Financial as regional group manager for the North Central Region, which includes Colo., Kan., Mo., and Neb. Nelson has worked with employers and agents in the group insurance market for more than 20 years, with experience at several national carriers, including Allstate’s Workplace Division, CIGNA and Prudential.

Symetra’s Group division provides a variety of products to help organizations meet their diverse insurance and benefits needs.

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