ALPS is to liquidate three VelocityShares ETFs – VelocityShares Emerging Asia DR ETF (ASDR), VelocityShares Emerging Markets DR ETF (EMDR) and VelocityShares Russia Select DR ETF (RUDR).
The three ETFs will close to new investors on 18 November 2014 and liquidate on 21 November 2014.
The decision to close the funds was made by the ALPS ETF Trust’s board of trustees after consultation with ALPS Advisors, the investment advisor to the funds. On consideration of current market conditions, as well as prospects for growth in the funds’ assets, the board determined that it was in the best interests of the funds and their shareholders to liquidate the funds’ shares, which are listed on the NASDAQ. The last day of trading for the three funds is scheduled to be 20 November 2014.
The funds will immediately begin the process of closing down and liquidating their portfolios. The process will result in the funds not tracking their underlying indexes and their cash holdings increasing, which may be inconsistent with the funds’ investment objectives and strategies. From 19 November to 20 November 2014, shareholders may be able to sell their shares to certain broker-dealers.
Any person holding shares in the funds as of the liquidation date will receive a cash distribution equal to the net asset value of their shares. Shareholders receiving this cash distribution will not incur transaction fees in connection with this distribution or the liquidation of their shares in the funds. A portion of the distribution may represent an ordinary income dividend or a capital gain distribution.
