NASDAQ OMX Global Indexes Announces Methodology Changes To The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced changes to the methodology of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index® (Nasdaq:NBI).

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, which is designed to track the performance of a set of NASDAQ listed securities classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB), will continue to employ a modified market capitalization weighting; however, the rebalancing procedures will change. Going forward, the Index will be rebalanced each quarter, to ensure the maximum weight of any Index security does not exceed 8 percent, and no more than five securities are at that cap. For a complete description of the revised Index methodology, please visithttps://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/docs/methodology_NBI.pdf.

Due to considerable growth in the biotechnology sector, particularly in the last six months, NASDAQ OMX has decided to modify the methodology to ensure the Index Securities are closer in line with their actual market capitalizations. The decision reflects NASDAQ OMX's commitment to ensure the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index remains one of the most widely-followed biotechnology benchmarks in the world.

In addition, the Index will change to an annual evaluation in December. Previously, the index was changed on a semi-annual basis.

The new rebalancing procedures used to calculate Index shares will become effective after the close of trading on Friday, June 21, 2013. Additions and deletions of securities will be made after the close of trading on the third Friday in December. For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including detailed eligibility criteria, and complete methodology, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/.

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is the basis for the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology IndexSM Fund (Nasdaq:IBB), the ProShares Ultra NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF (Nasdaq:BIB) and the ProShares UltraShort NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF (Nasdaq:BIS). For more information about these funds, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/Index/Overview/NBI.