TRB Tribune

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard & Poor's will make the following changes to the S&P 500 and S&P SmallCap 600: -- Range Resources Corp. (NYSE:RRC) will replace Tribune Co. (NYSE:TRB) in the S&P 500 after the close of trading on Thursday, December 20. Tribune is being taken private in a deal expected to close on or about that date, pending final approvals. -- Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) will replace Coherent Inc. (NASDAQ:COHR) in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on Tuesday, December 18. The Board of Directors of Nasdaq has informed Coherent that its stock is scheduled to be delisted by the exchange after the close of trading on that day, thus rendering it ineligible for continued membership in the S&P SmallCap 600. Standard & Poor's will monitor this transaction, and post any relevant updates on its website: http://www.standardandpoors.com/. Range Resources is engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and gas properties, primarily in the Southwest, Appalachian and Gulf Coast regions of the U.S. Headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, the company will be added to the S&P 500 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Sub-Industry index. Salix Pharmaceuticals acquires, develops and commercializes prescription drugs used in the treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Headquartered in Morrisville, NC, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Pharmaceuticals Sub-Industry index. Following is a summary of the changes: S&P 500 INDEX - December 20, 2007 COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR GICS SUB-INDUSTRY ADDED Range Resources Energy Oil & Gas Exploration & Production DELETED Tribune Consumer Discretionary Publishing S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX - December 18, 2007 COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR GICS SUB-INDUSTRY ADDED Salix Health Care Pharmaceuticals DELETED Coherent Information Technology Electronic Equipment Manufacturers Additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the companies concerned. About Standard & Poor's Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 7,500 employees, including wholly-owned affiliates, located in 21 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure, and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com/. About The McGraw-Hill Companies: Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/. DATASOURCE: Standard & Poor's CONTACT: David M. Blitzer, Ph.D. Managing Director & Chairman of the Index Committee +1-212-438-3907 Web site: http://www.standardandpoors.com/ http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/

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