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GENERAL ELECTRIC TAKES NO. 1 SPOT ON FORTUNE'S LIST OF TOP COMPANIES FOR LEADERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY [September 19, 2007] — FORTUNE in partnership with Hewitt Associates and RBL Group announced today its list of Top Companies for Leaders, a ranking of the world's companies that do the best job of developing strong leaders. Topping the global list is U.S.-based General Electric, a FORTUNE 500® company, which has 300,000 employees and generated $168.3 billion in revenue in 2006.

Of the over 550 companies surveyed from around the world, six of the top ten companies are U.S.-based. Rounding out the global top ten companies are: Proctor & Gamble, U.S. (No .2), Nokia, Finland (No. 3), Hindustan Unilever, India (No. 4), Capital One Financial, U.S. (No. 5), General Mills, U.S., (No. 6), McKinsey, U.S. (No. 7), IBM, U.S., (No. 8), BBVA, Spain (No. 9), and Infosys Technologies, India (No. 10).

"The corporate world has its work cut out for it," says Corey Hajim in her introduction to the list. "With commerce no longer bound by national borders, and competition for talent becoming increasingly fierce — and getting fiercer — companies are searching for fresh ways to inspire, nurture, and empower a new generation of global leaders."

To determine the rankings, FORTUNE worked with human resources consultants Hewitt Associates and the RBL Group to survey human resources executives worldwide. A detailed explanation of the methodology is available at www.FORTUNE.com.

Complete results from the study, including the top 20 global companies, regional rankings from North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, and related materials can be found in the October 1st issue of FORTUNE, available on newsstands September 24th and at www.FORTUNE.com on September 19th.

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About FORTUNE
FORTUNE is a global leader in business journalism known for its unrivaled access to industry leaders and decision makers. Founded in 1930, FORTUNE magazine has a worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5 million and is home to some of the strongest business franchises, including: FORTUNE 500, Best Companies, America's Most Admired Companies, Fastest Growing Companies and Most Powerful Women. The FORTUNE Conference Division extends the brand's mission into live settings, hosting a wide range of annual conferences for top-level executives, including the FORTUNE Global Forum and the Most Powerful Women Summit. FORTUNE's online home is CNNMoney.com, the most visited and utilized business destination website, averaging 8.4 million unique visitors per month (both according to Nielsen Net Ratings, 2006). FORTUNE, along with FSB: FORTUNE Small Business, MONEY, and the Website CNNMoney.com, is part of The Fortune/Money Group. Time Inc. is a division of Time Warner, a leading media and entertainment company.

About Hewitt Associates
With more than 65 years of experience, Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) is the world's foremost provider of human resources outsourcing and consulting services. The company consults with more than 2,300 organizations and administers human resources, health care, payroll and retirement programs on behalf of more than 340 companies to millions of employees and retirees worldwide. Located in 35 countries, Hewitt employs approximately 24,000 associates. For more information, please visit www.hewitt.com.

About the RBL Group
The RBL Group specializes in helping clients deliver a strong leadership brand and a strategic HR agenda. Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood, the firm's co-founders, have just written a book, Leadership Brand (HBSP, September 2007), which discusses criteria important to the Top Companies for Leaders study. The RBL Group delivers results-oriented, quality solutions by engaging people and processes that help HR and line executives integrate the latest thinking into their organizations through practical tools and approaches. For more information please visit www.rbl.net, e-mail rblmail@rbl.net, or call (801) 373-4238.

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CONTACT:

Katy Reitz
212-522-6724
Katy_Reitz@timeinc.com

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