IRVINE, Calif., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Endocare, Inc. , an innovative medical device company providing minimally invasive technologies for tissue and tumor ablation, announced today that it has joined the Russell Microcap Index.
Introduced in 2005, the Russell Microcap Index measures the performance of the microcap segment of the U.S. equity markets and includes 1,000 of the smallest securities in the small-cap Russell 2000(R) Index and the next 1,000 securities -- in descending order by market capitalization -- trading on national exchanges. The index offers analysts, portfolio managers and other investors a comprehensive, unbiased benchmark by which to compare their performance.
Russell annually reconstitutes its market cap-weighted indexes to reflect changes in the market over time and provide representative investment opportunity-sets for institutional managers. This year's list of additions to the microcap index is at www.russell.com/indexes/membership/Reconstitution/Recon_microcap_additions.asp Reconstitution of all Russell indexes occurred after the U.S. equity markets closed on June 27.
Endocare Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Craig Davenport remarked, "Our addition to the Russell Microcap Index is a result of the dedicated work of our employees and represents another important step in growing our presence and visibility in the investment community. We expect that inclusion in the index will also raise our profile among institutional and other investors who use the index as part of their investment strategies."
Over the past 25 years, Russell indexes have become the benchmarks most widely used by institutional investment managers as well as investors in index funds. Currently, more than $4.4 trillion is managed by institutional investors who use Russell indexes as benchmarks to guide their decision-making for both passive and active investment strategies. Investment managers utilize indexes as their portfolios purchase shares of the companies in the indexes according to relative index-weightings.
On May 30, 2008, all eligible securities were ranked by their total market capitalization. Companies whose stocks are listed on eligible national stock exchanges and which pass minimum liquidity and other investability rules were considered for inclusion in the indexes. The list of preliminary additions was published on June 13 and subsequently updated on June 20 and June 27.
About Russell
Russell Investments provides strategic advice, world-class implementation, state-of-the-art performance benchmarks and a range of institutional-quality investment products. Russell has more than $213 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2008, and serves individual, institutional and advisor clients in more than 40 countries. Founded in 1936, Russell is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.
About Endocare
Endocare, Inc. -- http://www.endocare.com -- is an innovative medical device company providing minimally invasive technologies for tissue and tumor ablation. Endocare has initially concentrated on developing technologies for the treatment of prostate cancer and believes that its proprietary technologies have broad applications across a number of markets, including the ablation of tumors in the kidney, lung and liver and palliative intervention (treatment of pain associated with metastases).
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the possible effects of the Company joining the Russell Microcap Index. Actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in "Risk Factors" in the Company's Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise, or update publicly, any forward-looking statements for any reason.
CONTACT: investors, Matt Clawson, +1-949-474-4300, matt@allencaron.com, or
media, Len Hall, +1-949-474-4300, len@allencaron.com, both of Allen &
Caron, Inc. for Endocare, Inc.; or Craig T. Davenport, CEO, or Michael R.
Rodriguez, CFO, both of Endocare, Inc., +1-949-450-5400
Web site: http://www.endocare.com/
