9.17.2004 ET

(CSRwire) ROCKVILLE, MD - Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), the leading provider of corporate governance data services, and FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE: FDS), announced today that the ISS Global Corporate Governance Quotient (CGQ) database is now accessible to investment analysts through FactSet DIRECTIONS.

Institutional investors and investment banking professionals have benefited from utilizing CGQ via FactSet since May 2003. The addition of the ISS Global Corporate Governance Quotient will give global investors access to a tool to analyze and benchmark the corporate governance practices of companies in major capital markets throughout the world.

Initially launched in June 2002, many of the world's largest and most-respected financial institutions have incorporated ISS' CGQ data and ratings into various aspects of their operations, leveraging the objective and independent nature of the ratings to enhance their research discipline. Analysts, portfolio managers and bankers are using CGQ worldwide as a tool in equity and credit research, to perform risk analysis, manage portfolios, conduct due diligence and support buy/sell decisions.

CGQ is the most comprehensive corporate governance database in the industry, designed specifically for investors and covering more than 7500 companies. Global CGQ on FactSet includes data and ratings on 2,000 companies in 23 countries including all the constituents of the MSCI EAFE Index as well as the Canadian S&P/TSX Composite Index. Together with the U.S. CGQ database, which includes 5,500 companies, ISS provides corporate governance analysis on over 7,500 companies, all available to FactSet users. Currently, ISS is populating all the companies in the FTSE Indices, which will extend our coverage to approximately 10,000 companies including coverage for emerging markets.

Global CGQ scores are weighted across 55 variables and calculated on the basis of eight core categories: 1) board of directors, 2) audit, 3) charter and by law provisions, 4) takeover practices, 5) executive and director compensation, 6) progressive practices, 7) ownership, and 8) director education. "With corporate governance issues extending into global markets, global corporate governance data has become an important component in fundamental and quantitative analysis," said Robert Magri, FactSet Vice President and Director of Content and Strategic Partnerships. "Broadening FactSet's relationship with ISS to include the Global CGQ database is consistent with our commitment to offering high quality global content to our clients."

"A large percentage of the ISS client base invests globally and have found it critical to include corporate governance factors in their investment and research disciplines," said Dan Concannon, executive vice president of ISS. "By expanding our relationship with FactSet to include Global CGQ, our clients have the ability to incorporate our data into their analytical processes."

ISS will host a "Global CGQ on FactSet" webcast on September 23rd at 2:00pm eastern. Register for the webcast today at www.issproxy.com/factset.

About Institutional Shareholder Services
ISS is the world's leading provider of proxy voting and corporate governance services. ISS provides proxy research, vote recommendations and governance data and advisory services to financial institutions worldwide. Founded in 1985, ISS is headquartered in Maryland and has offices in New York, London, Toronto, Tokyo, Manila and Chicago.

About FactSet Research Systems Inc.
FactSet Research Systems Inc. is a leading provider of global financial and economic information, including fundamental data on tens of thousands of companies worldwide. Combining more than 200 databases into its own dedicated online service, the Company also provides the tools to download, combine and manipulate the data for investment analysis. The Company, headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, was formed in 1978 and now conducts operations along with its affiliates from over twenty-two locations worldwide, including Boston, New York, Chicago, San Mateo, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney.

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