WisdomTree Launches Global Corporate Bond Fund (GLCB)

Income-Oriented Strategy Combines Flexible Global Mandate with Active Credit Analysis Sub-Advised by Leading Corporate Bond Manager Western Asset Management Company

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WisdomTree (Nasdaq:WETF), an exchange-traded fund ("ETF") sponsor and asset manager, today announced the launch of the WisdomTree Global Corporate Bond Fund (GLCB). GLCB is an actively managed ETF which will invest in corporate fixed income securities from around the world, and follows the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund (EMCB) as the Company's second credit fund to be sub-advised by Western Asset Management Company (Western Asset).

Luciano Siracusano, WisdomTree Chief Investment Strategist, said, "We believe fixed income investors should not limit themselves to a domestic universe of corporate debt securities when an expanding $11.2 trillion global credit market presents robust opportunities in our increasingly global economy. ¹"

Mr. Siracusano added, "We believe a broad global approach incorporating active credit analysis presents an opportunity to manage risk, liquidity and find opportunities for relative value over changing credit and interest rate cycles. In contrast to market capitalization-based fixed income index funds, GLCB is an actively managed ETF designed with the flexibility to invest – and rotate – across fixed income sectors and issuers around the world."

GLCB will seek to maintain at least 55% of its holdings in investment grade assets, with the ability to also invest in U.S. and International High Yield as well as Emerging Market Corporate Debt. The Fund intends to maintain an intermediate-term duration between 2 and 10 years.

Commenting on the strategy, Ryan Brist, GLCB Portfolio Manager of Western Asset, said, "We believe the strong balance sheets of multinational corporations, continued demand for new corporate issuance and the persistence of low interest rates around the world present attractive opportunities in global credit markets. Western Asset manages more than $115 billion in this asset class ² and we are excited to bring our expertise to a global corporate strategy in the ETF structure."  

GLCB is listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market with a net expense ratio of 0.45%, and intends to hedge non-US currency exposure back to U.S. dollars.

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