MAY CENTERS IS NOW CALLED CENTERMARK

ST. LOUIS May Centers Inc. has announced a name change.

Robert L. Ferguson, president and chief executive order of CenterMark, said, "In order to eliminate confusion within the real-estate industry and to more accurately reflect shared ownership by the Prudential Life Insurance Co. of America and May Department Stores Co, the corporation name will change to CenterMark Properties Inc. effective Monday,"

CenterMark Properties owns or has a partnership interest in 25 regional shopping centers nationwide. In the Cape Girardeau area, CenterMark manages, leases and has partnership interest in West Park Mall. Other CenterMark properties are Annapolis, Md., Mall; Meriden, Conn., Square; West Covina, Calif., Plaza; Vancouver, Wash., Mall; and Mission Valle Center in San Diego, Calif.

"We're proud of our retail heritage and long affiliation with the May C.," said Ferguson. "That association has granted us high esteem within the industry. Yet, for the past three years, the continued use of the name May Centers hasn't properly recognized the important role of our co-owner, Prudential."

CenterMark Properties is owned equally by May Department Stores and Prudential.

"We have come of age, and building upon our successes, we feel the CenterMark name and logo better position us to distinguish ourselves more independently within the industry," said Ferguson. "This new name will allow our company to stand on its own and develop its own reputation and identity regardless of the ownership structure."

William E. Grafstrom, chairman, added:

"The introduction of our new name recognizes a transformation which started three years ago, when ownership structure first changed. Our track record and accomplishments have been significant and demonstrate our ability to match the specific interests and needs of retailers with our real-estate-development objectives to balance risk-taking with creative and good business judgment.

"We're confident that this name change will clarify our position and stature in the real-estate industry," said Grafstrom.