CERG Ceres (MM)

Ceres Group Added to the Russell 3000(R) Index CLEVELAND, July 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ceres Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CERG) today announced that it has been named to the Russell 3000(R) Index of the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks, based on Ceres' market capitalization as of May 31. The addition of Ceres Group to the Russell family enables the company to be included in the portfolios of institutional investors who rely on the Russell indexes as part of their investment strategies. The one-year membership went into effect July 6, 2004. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000315/CRLOGO ) The Frank Russell Company, one of the world's leading investment management and advisory firms, annually reconstitutes its Russell 3000(R) Index, ranking the largest U.S. stocks as defined by total market capitalization. This realignment allows the index to provide an accurate reflection of stock market activity and performance. The Frank Russell Company has 21 U.S. stock indexes that serve as performance standards against which money managers and mutual funds can be evaluated. More than $350 billion is invested in funds that rely on Russell's U.S. indexes as investment models. About Ceres Group Ceres Group, Inc., through its insurance subsidiaries, provides a wide array of health and life insurance products through two primary business segments. Ceres' Medical Segment includes major medical health insurance for individuals, families, associations, and small to mid-size businesses. The Senior Segment includes senior health, life and annuity products for Americans age 55 and over. To help control medical costs, Ceres also provides medical cost management services to its insureds. Ceres' nationwide distribution channels include independent agents and its electronic distribution system. For more information, visit http://www.ceresgp.com/ . This news release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the company. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or statements of current condition. In light of the risks and uncertainties inherent in all future projections, the inclusion of forward-looking statements herein should not be regarded as representation by the company or any other person that the objectives or plans of the company will be achieved. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, failure to accurately predict claims liabilities, adverse outcomes in litigation, rising healthcare costs, business conditions and competition in the healthcare industry, developments in healthcare reform and other regulatory issues (including failure to meet statutory capital requirements), ability to develop and administer competitive products, performance of our reinsurers and failure to comply with financial and other covenants in our loan agreements, and the failure to successfully implement the business plans for the company and its subsidiaries. This review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Investors and others should refer to Ceres' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic filings, for a description of the foregoing and other factors. Ceres undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000315/CRLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Ceres Group, Inc. CONTACT: Gayle M. Vixler, Senior Vice President of Ceres Group, Inc., +1-440-572-8848 Web site: http://www.ceresgp.com/

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