NEW YORK, July 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AVR) of Pekin, Illinois will become a component of the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index(sm) (Nasdaq:CLEN) prior to market open on Wednesday, July 26, 2006.
With a market capitalization of approximately $1.4 billion, Aventine is an ethanol producer, focusing primarily on the production and sale of ethanol and its co-products.
The NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index, launched on May 18, 2006, is designed to track the performance of clean-energy companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. The NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index includes companies engaged in the manufacturing, development, distribution, and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries. The five major sub-sectors that the index covers are Renewable Electricity Generation, Renewable Fuels, Energy Storage & Conversion, Energy Intelligence and Advanced Energy-Related Materials.
About NASDAQ
NASDAQ is the largest U.S. electronic stock market. With approximately 3,200 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, transportation, media and biotechnology. NASDAQ is the primary market for trading NASDAQ-listed stocks. For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at http://www.nasdaq.com or the NASDAQ Newsroom at http://www.nasdaq.com/newsroom/.
About Clean Edge
Clean Edge, Inc., with offices in Oakland, Calif. and Portland, Ore., is a leading research and publishing firm that helps companies, investors, and policymakers understand and profit from clean technologies. Through its research and reports, conferences and events, online publications, and strategic consulting services, Clean Edge tracks and analyzes clean-tech markets, trends, and opportunities. Launched in 2001 by environmental and high-tech business pioneers Ron Pernick and Joel Makower, Clean Edge and its network of partners and affiliates offer unparalleled insight and intelligence. For more information, visit http://www.cleanedge.com.