DALLAS— The Meditrust Companies announced today its intention to execute a name change that will reflect its plan to be a lodging focused company. Meditrust Corporation will be renamed La Quinta Properties and Meditrust Operating Company will be renamed La Quinta Corp. The companies will continue to trade as a paired-share REIT and together, will be referred to as La Quinta. According to Francis Cash, president/CEO, “Our company no longer bears resemblance to the Meditrust of a year ago.” He said that more than 80% of the company’s revenue and real estate assets are derived from the La Quinta lodging brand. The name change is expected to occur on or about June 20, at which time trading will be conducted under a new ticker symbol— LQI. Until that time, the companies will continue to trade under the ticker symbol MT.
