TORONTO, March 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprott Asset Management LP ("Sprott") is pleased to announce the launch of the Sprott Junior Gold Miners Exchange Traded Fund ("the ETF") on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:SGDJ). The ETF was created in partnership with ALPS Advisors Inc. ("ALPS") and Zacks Index Services.
The goal of the ETF is to provide exposure to the Sprott Zacks Junior Gold Miners Index (NYSE:ZAXSGDJ), which seeks to outperform a passive, market-capitalization representation of junior gold stocks. The Index methodology is the 1st factor-based junior gold miners ETF and was developed by leveraging Sprott's long-time experience as a gold sector investor and Zacks' research capabilities.
"We are pleased to bring another first to the ETF market with SGDJ," said John Ciampaglia, Head of ETFs at Sprott. "SGDJ provides investors with a more thoughtful strategy by focusing on more advanced stage companies where the historical success rates have been higher. The Index also weights companies differently by using two factors - revenue growth and price momentum - to emphasize companies with stronger growth potential. These factors have historically been strong predictors of long-term stock performance in the junior gold mining sector."
"Based on the success of our first ETF, the Sprott Gold Miners ETF ("SGDM"), we believe there is strong demand in the market for a different way to invest in junior gold miners," added John Wilson, CEO of Sprott Asset Management. "We have a long history investing in the sector and believe that we have co-developed a compelling new way for investors to invest in junior gold miners using our dynamic, factor-based index methodology."
Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE:SGDJ) seeks to deliver exposure to the Sprott Zacks Junior Gold Miners Index (NYSE:ZAXSGDJ). This factor-based Index aims to track the performance of small-capitalization gold companies whose stocks are listed on major U.S. and Canadian exchanges. The Index uses a transparent, rules-based methodology that is designed to identify between 30 to 40 junior gold stocks with market capitalization between $250 million and $2 billion. Excluding companies with market capitalization below $250 million aims to exclude very early stage exploration companies whose historical success rate is low. Each stock's weighting in the Index is adjusted based on 2 company factors 1) Revenue Growth and 2) Price Momentum. The Index is reconstituted on a semi-annual basis, in November and May, to incorporate the latest factor scores into the selection and weighting process. The Index can also invest to a lesser degree in junior silver companies that meet the above criteria.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES AND DEFINITIONS:
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contain this and other information please contact your financial professional or call 1.855.215.1425. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF shares are not individually redeemable. Investors buy and sell shares of the Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF on a secondary market. Only market makers or "authorized participants" may trade directly with the Fund, typically in blocks of 50,000 shares.
The Fund is not suitable for all investors. There are risks involved with investing in ETFs including the loss of money. The Fund is considered non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in share price than would occur in a diversified fund.
The Fund will be concentrated in the gold and silver mining industry. As a result, the Fund will be sensitive to changes in, and its performance will depend to a greater extent on, the overall condition of the gold and silver mining industry. Also, gold and silver mining companies are highly dependent on the price of gold and silver bullion. These prices may fluctuate substantially over short periods of time so the Fund's Share price may be more volatile than other types of investments.
Funds that emphasize investments in small/mid cap companies will generally experience greater price volatility.
Micro-cap stocks involve substantially greater risks of loss and price fluctuations because their earnings and revenues tend to be less predictable. These companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development, with limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may lack management depth. Funds investing in foreign and emerging markets will also generally experience greater price volatility. There are risks involved with investing in ETFs including the loss of money. Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses. ETFs are considered to have continuous liquidity because they allow for an individual to trade throughout the day.
The Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF is a new product with a limited operating history.
ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is the Distributor for the Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF
About Sprott Asset Management
Sprott is an alternative investment manager that specializes in precious metals and natural resource investing. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, the mining finance center of the world, Sprott manages approximately $5 billion in precious metals-related investments, including the Sprott Physical Bullion Trusts, which trade on the NYSE Arca. Sprott ETFs provide investors with access to innovative and unique indexes that are designed to outperform passive market cap-weighted offerings. Sprott Asset Management leverages its expertise as an active money manager to co-develop each Index with its partners. Each index is designed using specific Factors that Matter™ for a particular sector. These customized factors are selected because they have historically proven to be strong predictors of long-term stock performance.
For more information, please visit www.SprottETFs.com
About ALPS
Founded in 1985, ALPS is a leading provider of innovative investment products and customized servicing solutions to the financial services industry. Headquartered in Denver, ALPS has expanded the delivery of its Asset Management and Asset Servicing Solutions to include offices in Boston, New York, Seattle, and Toronto. ALPS is a wholly‐owned subsidiary of Kansas City-based DST Systems, Inc. For more information about ALPS and its services, visit www.alpsinc.com. Information about ALPS products is available at www.alpsfunds.com.
About Zacks Index Services
Zacks Index Services (the "Index Provider") is the index provider for the Fund. Zacks Index Services, a division of Zacks Investment Management ("ZIM"), creates and maintains proprietary, quantitative portfolio strategies that are licensed to product sponsors and serve as the basis of investment products such as ETFs, unit investment trusts and closed-end funds. ZIM, a wealth management boutique, is a leading expert on earnings and using earnings estimates in the investment process. ZIM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zacks Investment Research, one of the largest providers of independent research in the U.S.