The Priceline Group Set to Join the S&P 100; Baxalta to Join the 500; Other Changes to S&P MidCap 400 & S&P SmallCap 600

NEW YORK, June 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices will make the following changes to the S&P 100, S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600 indices:

• S&P 500 constituent The Priceline Group Inc. (NASD:PCLN) will replace Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) in the S&P 100, Baxalta Inc. (NYSE:BXLTwi) will replace QEP Resources Inc. (NYSE:QEP) in the S&P 500, QEP Resources will replace Itron Inc. (NASD:ITRI) in the S&P MidCap 400, and Itron will replace Arch Coal Inc. (NYSE:ACI) in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on Tuesday, June 30. Baxter International is spinning off Baxalta in a transaction expected to be completed on that date. Baxter International will remain in the S&P 500 following the distribution, but its post spin market capitalization will no longer make it appropriate for the S&P 100. QEP Resources, Itron and Arch Coal are all ranked near or at the bottom of their current indices.
  
  
• Skechers USA Inc. (NYSE: SKX) will replace Rock-Tenn Co. (NYSE:RKT) in the S&P MidCap 400, and MiMedx Group Inc. (NASD:MDXG) will replace Skechers USA in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on Tuesday, June 30. S&P 500 constituent MeadWestvaco Corp. (NYSE:MWV) is combining with Rock-Tenn in a transaction expected to be completed on or about that date. The combined company will remain in the S&P 500 and will change its name to WestRock Co.
  
  
• HealthEquity Inc. (NASD:HQY) will replace Zep Inc. (NYSE:ZEP) in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on Thursday, June 25. Private equity firm New Mountain Capital is acquiring Zep in a transaction expected to be completed on or about that date pending final approvals.

The Priceline Group provides online travel and travel related reservation and search services.

Baxalta develops and markets innovative biopharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Deerfield, IL, the company will be added to the S&P 500 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Biopharmaceuticals Sub-Industry index.

QEP Resources operates as an exploration and production company. Headquartered in Denver CO, the company will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 GICS Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Sub-Industry index.

Itron provides metering solutions to electricity, gas, and water utility markets. Headquartered in Lake Liberty, WA, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Electronic Equipment & Instruments Sub-Industry index.

Skechers USA designs, develops, markets, and distributes footwear. Headquartered in Manhattan Beach, CA, the company will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 Footwear Sub-Industry index.

MiMedx Group develops, processes, and markets patent protected regenerative biomaterial products. Headquartered in Marietta, GA, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 Biotechnology Sub-Industry index.

HealthEquity Inc. provides various solutions for managing health care accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and flexible spending accounts. Headquartered in Draper, UT, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 Managed Health Care Sub-Industry index.

Following is a summary of the changes:

Additions to and deletions from S&P  Dow Jones Indices do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the companies involved.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a part of McGraw Hill Financial, is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 1,000,000 indices covering a wide range of asset classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com.  

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For more information:

David Blitzer
Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee
S&P Dow Jones Indices
(+) 212 438 3907
david.blitzer@spdji.com  

David R. Guarino 
Communications
S&P Dow Jones Indices
(+1) 212 438 1471
dave.guarino@spdji.com 

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SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices