S&P Plans REIT Index Changes

Standard & Poor's has announced plans to replace three real estate investment trusts in the S&P REIT Composite index.Digital Realty Trust, a San Francisco-based technology REIT, will replace MeriStar Hospitality in the REIT index after the close of trading May 2 because MeriStar is being acquired by The Blackstone Group and affiliates, S&P said. Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc., a San Clemente, Calif.-based lodging REIT, will replace Arden Realty in the index, also after the close of trading May 2, because Arden is being acquired by GE Real Estate. And First Potomac Realty Trust, a Bethesda, Md.-based industrial and flex-property REIT, is replacing Bedford Property Investors Inc. after the close of trading May 3 because Bedford is being acquired by an affiliate of LBA Realty LLC. S&P can be found online at http://www.standardandpoors.com.