The Fortune/Roper Corporate Reputation Index 26/6/01 Eight petroleum refiners, five specialist retailers, five telecoms companies and seven airlines lead the "falling stars" tracked in the recently completed, second annual FORTUNE/Roper Corporate Reputation Index in the USA. The Index's "blue chips" category, on the other hand, includes 19 retailers, eight cosmetics companies, 12 media and entertainment agencies, and seven computer office equipment manufacturers. They are both well known and well liked. "The FORTUNE/Roper Corporate Reputation Index measures what industry executives and consumers think of companies in the Fortune 500 and how their attitudes translate into buying behaviour," said John Gilfeather, vice chairman of Roper Starch Worldwide, the market research firm teamed with the New Business Ventures group of FORTUNE in producing the Index. The FORTUNE/Roper Corporate Reputation Index compiles data from two unique surveys. The opinions of more than 17,000 consumers, individual investors and Influential Americans surveyed by Roper Starch for the Index are coupled with responses from the more than 10,000 executives and industry analysts surveyed for FORTUNE magazine's annual "America's Most Admired Companies" study. The combined data create a comprehensive research tool that quantifies the impact of image and offers tangible results for management to use in shaping strategy. "Corporate reputation has become a key strategic weapon in today's management arsenal," added Mr. Gilfeather. "Successful executives use it to manage their businesses better and assess competition. The FORTUNE/Roper Corporate Reputation Index gives companies a deeper understanding of how reputation works for and against corporate performance." The FORTUNE/Roper Corporate Reputation Index enables companies to compare themselves with competitors as well as with other corporations and sectors. The data provides: Reports on the statistical links between reputation factors and positive business outcomes, such as willingness to buy a company's products and services. Overall corporate reputation rankings for individual companies. Ratings based on key reputation and behavioural factors, such as a company's innovation, care for customers and the likelihood of an individual recommending a company's products and stock. Reputation comparisons across stakeholder groups, including the general public, investors, industry executives, financial analysts, and Influential Americans. For further information visit www.roper.com