Orchids Added To Membership Of U.S. Small-Cap Russell 2000® Index

PRYOR, Okla., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Orchids Paper Products Company was added as a member of the U.S. small-cap Russell 2000® Index after the equity markets closed on June 22 as Russell Investments reconstituted its comprehensive family of global indexes.  Membership in the Russell 2000, which remains in place for one year, is based on membership in the broad-market Russell 3000® Index.  The stock was also added systematically to the Russell Microcap growth and value index.  Russell determines membership for its equity indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

"We are pleased to be added to the Russell 2000, which reflects our continued positive momentum and efforts to increase shareholder value," said Robert Snyder, President and Chief Executive Officer.  "We expect our inclusion will raise our profile and generate greater interest in our stock at an institutional investor level."

The Russell 3000 also serves as the U.S. component to the Russell Global Index, which Russell launched in 2007.  Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for both passive and active investment strategies.  In the institutional marketplace, an industry-leading $3.9 trillion in assets currently are benchmarked to them.  Russell calculates more than 80,000 benchmarks daily covering approximately 98 percent of the investable market globally, 83 countries and more than 10,000 securities.

Annual reconstitution of Russell Indexes captures the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks as of the end of May, ranking them by total market capitalization to create the Russell 3000® Index and Russell Microcap Index. These investment tools originated from Russell's multi-manager investment business in the early 1980s when the company saw the need for a more objective, market-driven set of benchmarks in order to evaluate outside investment managers.

Real-time market analysis on the Russell 2000 and other Russell Indexes is available at http://www.russell.com/indexes/data/US_Equity/Russell_US_Index_returns.asp.

About Russell Investments

Russell Investments (Russell) is a global asset manager and one of only a few firms that offers actively managed, multi-asset portfolios and services that include advice, investments and implementation. Working with institutional investors, financial advisors and individuals, Russell's core capabilities extend across capital markets insights, manager research, Indexes, portfolio implementation and portfolio construction.

Russell has approximately $155 billion in assets under management (as of March 31, 2012) and works with 2,400 institutional clients, more than 580 independent distribution partners and advisors, and individual investors globally. Founded in 1936, Russell is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. 

About Orchids Paper Products Company

Orchids Paper Products Company is an integrated manufacturer of tissue paper products serving the private label consumer market.  The Company produces a full line of tissue products, including paper towels, bathroom tissue and paper napkins.  From its operations in Pryor, Oklahoma, Orchids Paper Products Company uses primarily recycled waste paper to produce finished tissue products that it provides to retail chains throughout the central United States.  For more information on the Company and its products, visit the Company's website at http://www.orchidspaper.com.

SOURCE Orchids Paper Products Company