Low volatility index wins prestigious Sharpe award

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - PowerShares Canada announced today that the S&P 500^® Low Volatility Index has received the prestigious William F. Sharpe Indexing Product of the Year award at the Global Indexing & ETFs conference held in Phoenix, Arizona.

Created by S&P Dow Jones Indices, the S&P 500^® Low Volatility Index was recognized as having the most significant impact on the indexing industry over the previous 12 months. The index tracks the 100 stocks from the S&P 500^® Index with the lowest realized volatility over the past 252 trading days, and is rebalanced on a quarterly basis.

TSX-listed PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility (CAD Hedged) Index ETF (ULV) is designed to track the S&P 500^® Low Volatility Index (CAD Hedged), which provides investors with exposure to a currency hedged version of the same strategy.

"Recognizing the best and the brightest innovators in the field of indexing, this year's Sharpe Award is further validation that low-volatility indexing is a viable, long-term strategy that offers investors a layer of protection against declining market environments while still maintaining broad equity exposure," said Michael Cooke, Head of Distribution for PowerShares Canada, part of Invesco Canada Ltd.

"While investors have generally equated low volatility with low returns, many are realizing that low-volatility strategies can have a better risk-return profile relative to those that provide exposure to traditional market-cap-weighted indices," Cooke added.

Leading the Intelligent ETF Revolution^®, PowerShares Canada was early to recognize the advantages of low-volatility investing. Based on the highly regarded S&P Dow Jones Indices, the PowerShares Canada family of low-volatility ETFs provides investors with investment opportunities across key market segments:

• PowerShares S&P 500 Low Volatility (CAD Hedged) Index ETF (TSX:ULV)
• PowerShares S&P/TSX Composite Low Volatility Index ETF (TSX:TLV).

About the Sharpe Awards
The William F. Sharpe Index Achievement Awards are chosen following a rigorous selection process starting with a vetting committee of industry practitioners. The vetting committee reviews hundreds of nominations from industry participants across the globe and narrows the field down to three finalists in each category. The finalists are voted on by world's leading academics in the indexing research world, who sit on the editorial board of the Journal of Index Investing.

About Invesco Canada Ltd.
Invesco Canada Ltd., operating under three distinct yet complementary product brands (Trimark, Invesco and PowerShares), is one of Canada's largest independent investment management companies. A subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., Invesco Canada offers a diversified suite of investment solutions to institutions, organizations, companies and individual investors across Canada and around the world. Invesco Ltd. is a leading independent global investment management firm 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 more than 20 countries, the firm is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ. Additional information is available at www.invesco.com.

Commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investments in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the prospectus before investing. Copies are available from Invesco Canada Ltd. at www.powershares.ca.

There are risks involved with investing in ETFs. Please read the prospectus for a complete description of risks relevant to the ETF. Ordinary brokerage commissions apply to purchases and sales of ETF units.

Most PowerShares ETFs seek to replicate, before fees and expenses, the performance of the applicable Index, and are not actively managed.  This means that the Sub-advisor will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets and the ETF will continue to provide exposure to each of the securities in the Index regardless of whether the financial condition of one or more issuers of securities in the Index deteriorates.  In contrast, if a PowerShares ETF is actively managed, then the Sub-advisor has discretion to adjust that PowerShares ETF's holdings in accordance with the ETF's investment objectives and strategies.

ETFs are not diversified investments.

PowerShares Canada is a registered business name of Invesco Canada Ltd.

This piece was produced by Invesco Canada Ltd.

Standard & Poor's^® and S&P^® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"); Dow Jones^® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones"); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.  S&P Dow Jones Indices are trademarks of S&P and have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates and sublicensed for certain purposes by Invesco Canada Ltd. The Indices are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and has been licensed for use by Invesco Canada Ltd. Invesco Canada Ltd.'s product(s) is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates, and neither S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s).

Invesco^® and all associated trademarks are trademarks of Invesco Holding Company Limited, used under licence.

PowerShares^®, Leading the Intelligent ETF Revolution^®, and all associated trademarks are trademarks of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management, LLC (Invesco PowerShares), used under licence.

SOURCE: Invesco Canada Ltd.