Lincare Holdings to join Nasdaq-100 Index

New York: Lincare Holdings Inc will become a component of the Nasdaq-100 Index, effective at the beginning of trading on 24 July 2002. Lincare Holdings will also be included in the Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (QQQ). Lincare Holdings will replace WorldCom, which is no longer eligible for inclusion in the index.

With a market capitalisation of over $3.2 billion, Lincare Holdings, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, is a provider of oxygen and other respiratory therapy services to patients in the home. The company provides services and equipment to over 355,000 customers in 46 states.

The Nasdaq-100 Index, launched in January 1985, is one of the most widely followed benchmarks in the world. The Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock represents ownership in the Nasdaq-100 Trust. The trust holds a portfolio of equity securities that compose the Nasdaq-100 Index and aims to provide investment results that generally correspond with its performance.

Nasdaq (www.nasdaq.com) is the worlds largest stock market. With nearly 4,000 companies, Nasdaq lists more companies and trades more shares per day than any other US market. Over the past five years, Nasdaq has outpaced all other US markets in listing IPOs.

It is also home to category-defining companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, media and biotechnology industries. With operations on three continents, Nasdaq is a key driver of global capital formation.