Citizens Advisers takes steps to support Sudan divestiture

March 22, 2006 — Boston, Mass. — Citizens Advisers, the investment manager to Citizens Funds, today announced that it has called on companies within its portfolios to divest of business activities in Sudan. Citizens is the first mutual fund management firm to call for divestment from portfolio companies. Citizens is joining the growing group of institutional investors who are seeking divestment of activities that support the ruling Sudanese regime.

“We have taken this action in response to the deplorable actions of the Sudanese regime. Exerting influence on the companies we hold in our portfolios is a first step in support of the growing campaign to improve the situation for innocent victims in Sudan,” said Joanne Dowdell, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Citizens Advisers.

Sudan is the site of an intense ethnic and economic conflict where militias sponsored by the Arab controlled Sudanese government have driven non-Arab Africans from their homes and property. The twenty year conflict has resulted in the displacement of four million people and two million deaths.

Citizens’ decision reflects the sentiments of its Board of Trustees, a body of primarily independent representatives of Citizens Funds shareholders. “Citizens shareholders are looking for active ways to participate in the divestment campaign and we wholeheartedly support Citizens Advisers communication to companies doing business in Sudan,” said Walter Bristol, Chair of Citizens Funds Board of Trustees. Letters will be sent to the CEO’s of approximately 20 companies. A copy of the letter will be posted to Citizens’ website and shareholders in Citizens Funds will be invited to write their own urgings to these firms. “We believe that encouraging companies to divest of their businesses in Sudan has the potential to have the same tremendous positive impact as the South Africa divestiture campaign of the 1990s. As investors there are few other options available to address the horrific situation in Sudan.” said Ms. Dowdell.