PVN Providian Financial

NEW YORK, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard & Poor's will make the following changes to the S&P 500, S&P SmallCap 600 and S&P REIT Composite indices: * Ameriprise Financial Inc. (NYSE:AMPwi) will replace Providian Financial Corp. (NYSE:PVN) in the S&P 500 after the close of trading on Friday, September 30, 2005. Ameriprise is being spun off by S&P 500 constituent American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP), and Providian is being acquired by S&P 500 constituent Washington Mutual Inc. (NYSE:WM), in transactions expected to close on or about that date. * United Fire & Casualty Co. (NASD: UFCS) will replace Gables Residential Trust (NYSE:GBP) in the S&P SmallCap 600, and Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp. (NASD: MNRTA) will replace Gables in the S&P REIT Composite, after the close of trading on Friday, September 30, 2005. Gables is being acquired by S&P Global 1200 constituent ING Groep in a deal pending final approvals. * Portfolio Recovery Associates Inc. (NASD: PRAA) will replace School Specialty Inc. (NASD: SCHS) in the S&P SmallCap 600 on a date to be announced. School Specialty is being acquired by an affiliate of Bain Capital Partners LLC in a deal that is still pending final approval. Standard & Poor's will monitor these transactions, and post any relevant updates on its website: http://www.standardandpoors.com/. Ameriprise is a financial planning and services firm. Headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, the company will be added to the S&P 500 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Asset Management & Custody Banks Sub- Industry Index. United Fire & Casualty writes property, casualty and life insurance, mostly in the Midwest. Headquartered in Cedar Rapids, IA, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Property & Casualty Insurance Sub-Industry Index. Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp. derives its income primarily from real estate rental operations, consisting of 38 industrial properties and one shopping center. Headquartered in Freehold, NJ, the company will be added to the S&P REIT Composite Industrial/Office property category. Portfolio Recovery provides outsourced receivables management by purchasing, collecting and managing portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables. Headquartered in Norfolk, VA, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap 600 GICS Diversified Commercial & Professional Services Sub- Industry Index. Following is a summary of the changes: S&P 500 INDEX - September 30, 2005 COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC GICS SUB-INDUSTRY SECTOR ADDED Ameriprise Financials Asset Management & Financial Custody Banks DELETED Providian Financials Consumer Finance Financial S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX - September 30, 2005 COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC GICS SUB-INDUSTRY SECTOR ADDED United Fire & Financials Property & Casualty Casualty Insurance DELETED Gables Financials Real Estate Residential Investment Trusts Trust S&P REIT COMPOSITE INDEX - September 30, 2005 COMPANY REIT TYPE PROPERTY CATEGORY ADDED Monmouth Real Equity Industrial/Office Estate DELETED Gables Equity Residential Property Trust S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX - TBA COMPANY GICS ECONOMIC GICS SUB-INDUSTRY SECTOR ADDED Portfolio Industrials Diversified Recovery Commercial & Professional Services DELETED School Industrials Diversified Specialty Commercial & Professional Services 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 independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research, data and valuations. With 6,500 employees located in 22 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/. Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies 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, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 300 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2004 were $5.3 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 (212) 438-3907 Web site: http://www.standardandpoors.com/ http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/

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