NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices will make the following changes to the S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600 indices:


    --  S&P SmallCap 600 constituent New Jersey Resources Corp. (NYSE:NJR) will
        replace StanCorp Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:SFG) in the S&P MidCap 400,
        and California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) will replace New Jersey
        Resources in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on Monday,
        March 7. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. is acquiring StanCorp Financial
        in a deal expected to be completed on or about that date pending final
        conditions.
    --  Vera Bradley Inc. (NASD:VRA) will replace Republic Airways Holdings Inc.
        (NASD:RJET) in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on
        Monday, February 29. Republic Airways announced that it filed voluntary
        petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy
        Code making it ineligible for continued inclusion in the S&P SmallCap
        600.

New Jersey Resources Corp. provides regulated gas distribution, and retail and wholesale energy services. Headquartered in Wall, NJ, the company will be added to the S&P MidCap 400 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Gas Utilities Sub-Industry index.

California Water Service Group provides water utility and other related services. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Water Utilities Sub-Industry index.

Vera Bradley designs, manufactures, and sells handbags, accessories, and luggage and travel items. Headquartered in Roanoke, IN, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods Sub-Industry index.

Following is a summary of the changes:



                   S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX - February 29, 2016
                   ------------------------------------------

                 COMPANY                    GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR        GICS SUB-INDUSTRY
                 -------                    --------------------        -----------------

    ADDED     Vera Bradley                 Consumer Discretionary Apparel, Accessories & Luxury
                                                                              Goods
    ---                                                                       -----

    DELETED Republic Airways                    Industrials                 Airlines
                Holdings
    ---         --------



                  S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX - March 7, 2016
                  ------------------------------------

                  COMPANY                 GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR    GICS SUB-INDUSTRY
                  -------                 --------------------    -----------------

    ADDED       New Jersey                      Utilities           Gas Utilities
                 Resources
    ---          ---------

    DELETED StanCorp Financial                 Financials      Life & Health Insurance
    ------- ------------------                 ----------      -----------------------



                S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX - March 7, 2016
                --------------------------------------

                 COMPANY                 GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR GICS SUB-INDUSTRY
                 -------                 -------------------- -----------------

    ADDED   California Water                   Utilities       Water Utilities
             Services Group
    ---      --------------

    DELETED    New Jersey                      Utilities        Gas Utilities
                Resources
    ---         ---------

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.

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New York, USA
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(+1) 212 438 2297
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