NEW YORK, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard & Poor's will make the following changes to the S&P SmallCap 600 index after the close of trading on October 31, 2007: -- Zep Inc. (NYSE:ZEPwi) will replace Cost Plus Inc. (NASD: CPWM) in the S&P SmallCap 600. Zep is being spun off by S&P SmallCap 600 constituent Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE:AYI) in a transaction expected to close on or about that date. At today's close of trading, Cost Plus had a market capitalization of approximately $72 million, ranking 600th in the index. -- Patriot Coal Corp. (NYSE:PCXwi) will replace PolyMedica Corp. (NASD: PLMD) in the S&P SmallCap 600. PolyMedica is being acquired by S&P 500 constituent MedcoHealth Solutions Inc. (NYSE:MHS) in a deal expected to close on or about that date, pending final approvals. Patriot is being spun off by S&P 500 constituent Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE:BTU) in a transaction expected to close on or about that date. Standard & Poor's will monitor these transactions, and post any relevant updates on its website: http://www.standardandpoors.com/. Zep provides cleaning and maintenance products. Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Specialty Chemicals Sub-Industry index. Patriot Coal produces coal in the United States. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Coal & Consumable Fuels Sub-Industry index. Following is a summary of the changes: S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX -- October 31, 2007 COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC GICS SUB-INDUSTRY SECTOR ADDED Zep Materials Specialty Chemicals DELETED Cost Plus Consumer Homefurnishing Discretionary Retail S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX -- October 31, 2007 COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC GICS SUB-INDUSTRY SECTOR ADDED Patriot Coal Energy Coal & Consumable Fuels DELETED PolyMedica Health Care Health Care Supplies 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 8,500 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 of Standard & Poor's, +1-212-438-3907 Web site: http://www.standardandpoors.com/

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