CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - December 2, 2010) - Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC, a leading global provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with more than $50 billion in franchise assets, announced that four new ETF portfolios, based on Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (KBW) indexes, began trading today on the NYSE Arca. The portfolios provide investors with access to the real estate investment trust (REIT), financial services, and property & casualty insurance market sectors. The portfolio names and ticker symbols are listed below.
- PowerShares KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Portfolio (
NYSE Arca :KBWY ) - PowerShares KBW High Dividend Yield Financial Portfolio (
NYSE Arca :KBWD ) - PowerShares KBW International Financial Portfolio (
NYSE Arca :KBWX ) - PowerShares KBW Property & Casualty Insurance Portfolio (
NYSE Arca :KBWP )
"KBW is highly regarded for producing industry-leading research on the financial services sector," said Ben Fulton, Invesco PowerShares managing director of global ETFs. "We believe the breadth and depth of their global research provides a unique perspective and ability to deliver institutional-caliber indexing strategies for investors looking to access specific sub-sectors. We are very excited to partner with KBW to provide investors four compelling ETFs based on the KBW family of financial sector indexes."
"KBW Indexes are designed to replicate specific industry and market segments, offering retail and institutional investors access to hard-to-reach financial sub-sectors both domestically and abroad," said John Howard, co-head of research at KBW. "The launch of these new PowerShares KBW ETFs allows investors to access a broad array of financial sectors, while providing an effective hedge against risk associated with market volatility."
The PowerShares KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Portfolio (KBWY) is based on the KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is constructed by KBW using a dividend yield weighted methodology that seeks to reflect the performance of approximately 24 to 40 small- and mid-cap equity REITs in the United States.
The PowerShares KBW High Dividend Yield Financial Portfolio (KBWD) is based on the KBW Financial Sector Dividend Yield Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is constructed by KBW using a dividend yield weighted methodology that seeks to reflect the performance of approximately 24 to 40 publicly listed financial companies that are principally engaged in the business of providing financial services and products, including banking, insurance and diversified financial services, in the United States. The Index may also include securities of business development companies (BDCs) and equity and mortgage REITs.
The PowerShares KBW International Financial Portfolio (KBWX) is based on the KBW Global ex-U.S. Financial Sector Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is currently comprised primarily of American Depository Receipts (ADRs). The Underlying Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index that seeks to reflect the performance of approximately 60 non-U.S. financial companies that are principally engaged in the business of providing financial services and products, including banking, insurance and diversified financial services.
The PowerShares KBW Property & Casualty Insurance Portfolio (KBWP) is based on the KBW Property & Casualty Index. The Fund will normally invest at least 90% of its total assets in securities that comprise the Underlying Index. The Underlying Index is a modified market capitalization weighted index that seeks to reflect the performance of approximately 24 property and casualty insurance companies.
KBW operates in the U.S., Europe and Asia through its broker dealer subsidiaries, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Limited and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Asia Limited. It also offers asset management services through KBW Asset Management, Inc. Founded in 1962, the firm is widely recognized as a leading authority in the banking, insurance, brokerage, asset management, mortgage banking and specialty finance sectors. The firm has established industry-leading positions in the areas of research, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions as well as sales and trading for financial services companies.
Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC is leading the Intelligent ETF Revolution® through its family of more than 148 domestic and international exchange-traded funds, which seek to outperform traditional benchmark indexes while providing advisors and investors access to an innovative array of focused investment opportunities. With franchise assets over $50 billion as of Sept. 30, 2010, PowerShares ETFs trade on both U.S. stock exchanges. For more information, please visit us at www.invescopowershares.com.
Invesco PowerShares is part of Invesco Ltd., a leading independent global investment manager, dedicated to helping investors worldwide achieve their financial objectives. By delivering the combined power of our distinctive investment management capabilities, Invesco provides a wide range of investment strategies and vehicles to our retail, institutional and high net worth clients around the world. Operating in 20 countries, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ. Additional information is available at www.invesco.com.
General Risks
There are risks involved with investing in exchange-traded funds ("ETFs"), including possible loss of money. Shares are not actively managed and are subject to risks including those regarding short selling and margin maintenance requirements. Ordinary brokerage commissions apply.
The Funds are considered non-diversified and may be subject to greater risks than a diversified fund.
KBWY -- PowerShares KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Portfolio Risk
Investments in real estate instruments may be affected by economic, legal, cultural, environment or technological factors that affect the property values, rents or occupancies of real estate related to the Fund's holdings.
Investing in securities of small and medium-sized companies may involve greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in large companies.
Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange-rate changes, decreased market liquidity, political instability and taxation by foreign governments.
Although the Fund will not invest in real estate directly, the REITs in which the Fund will invest will be subject to risks inherent in the direct ownership of real estate. Companies engaged in REITs and high yielding paying companies are subject to greater risks, and are more greatly impacted by market volatility, than more diversified investments.
KBWD -- PowerShares KBW High Dividend Yield Financial Portfolio Risk
The Underlying Index may also include securities of business development companies ("BDCs") and equity and mortgage REITs. The Fund contains securities in the financial sector. Companies engaged in this sector are subject to greater risks, and are more greatly impacted by market volatility, than more diversified investments.
Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange-rate changes, decreased market liquidity, political instability and taxation by foreign governments
Although the Fund will not invest in real estate directly, the REITs in which the Fund will invest will be subject to risks inherent in the direct ownership of real estate.
Companies engaged in REITs and high yielding paying companies are subject to greater risks, and are more greatly impacted by market volatility, than more diversified investments.
There are certain risks inherent in investing in Business Development Corporations ("BDCs"). The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), imposes certain restraints upon the operations of a BDC. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of private companies or thinly traded U.S. public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Generally, little public information exists for private and thinly traded companies and there is a risk that investors may not be able to make a fully informed investment decision. With investments in debt instruments, there is a risk that the issuer may default on its payments or declare bankruptcy. Additionally, a BDC may only incur indebtedness in amounts such that the BDC's asset coverage equals at least 200% after such incurrence. These limitations on asset mix and leverage may prohibit the way that the BDC raises capital. BDCs generally invest in less mature private companies which involve greater risk than well-established publicly-traded companies. To the extent that the Fund invests a portion of its assets in BDCs, a shareholder in the Fund will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly the expenses of the BDCs.
KBWX -- PowerShares KBW International Financial Portfolio Risk Information
Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange-rate changes, decreased market liquidity, political instability and taxation by foreign governments.
The Fund's investments in foreign financial institutions involve risks that are in addition to the risks associated with domestic securities. A significant percentage of the Underlying Index may be comprised of issuers in a single industry or sector of the economy. If the Fund is focused in an industry or sector, it may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. Please see prospectus for more information.
KBWP -- PowerShares KBW Property & Casualty Insurance Portfolio Risk Information
The Fund contains securities in property & casualty insurance companies. Property and casualty insurance companies can be significantly affected by many factors, including changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, the imposition of premium rate caps, competition, and pressure to compete globally, including price and marketing competition, and other changes in government regulation or tax law. In addition, different segments of the insurance industry can be significantly affected by mortality and morbidity rates, environmental clean-up costs and catastrophic events such as natural disasters and terrorist acts. A significant percentage of the Underlying Index may be comprised of issuers in a single industry or sector of the economy. If the Fund is focused in an industry or sector, it may present more risks than if it were broadly diversified over numerous industries and sectors of the economy. Please see prospectus for more information.
Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee
Shares are not individually redeemable and owners of the Shares may acquire those Shares from the Fund and tender those Shares for redemption to the Fund in Creation Unit aggregations only, typically consisting of 50,000 Shares.
Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II.
PowerShares® is a registered trademark of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC ("Invesco PowerShares"). Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC and Invesco Distributors, Inc. are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Invesco Ltd.
Note: Not all products available through all firms.
An investor should consider the Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For this and more complete information about the Funds, call 800 983 0903 or visit invescopowershares.com for a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Contact Information:
Media Contacts:
Kristin Sadlon
Porter Novelli
212-601-8192