FT Portfolios Canada Co. files preliminary prospectus for five exchange-traded funds

FIRM CREATES UNIQUE QUANTITATIVE APPROACH, OFFERS FUNDAMENTAL ALTERNATIVE TO MARKET CAP WEIGHTED PORTFOLIOS

TORONTO, March 19, 2013 /CNW/ - FT Portfolios Canada Co. ("First Trust"), a privately owned company and an affiliate of First Trust Portfolios L.P., a U.S. registered broker-dealer and First Trust Advisors L.P., a U.S. registered investment advisor and OSC registered portfolio manager, today announced that a preliminary prospectus has been filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada for its first suite of Canadian domiciled exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The lineup of equity and fixed income ETFs include:

First Trust AlphaDEX Canadian Dividend Plus ETF, seeks to provide Unitholders with exposure to the performance of a portfolio of higher yielding Canadian dividend paying stocks, as well as providing Unitholders with monthly distributions. In addition, First Trust AlphaDEX Canadian Dividend Plus ETF will, from time to time, write covered call options on a portion of the portfolio in order to produce additional income.

First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Dividend Plus ETF (CAD-Hedged), seeks to provide Unitholders with exposure to the performance of a portfolio of higher yielding U.S. dividend paying stocks, as well as providing Unitholders with monthly distributions. In addition, First Trust AlphaDEX U.S. Dividend Plus ETF (CAD-Hedged) will, from time to time, write covered call options on a portion of the portfolio in order to produce additional income.

First Trust AlphaDEX Emerging Market Dividend ETF (CAD-Hedged), seeks to provide Unitholders with exposure to the performance of a portfolio of dividend paying equity securities domiciled in the emerging markets as well as providing Unitholders with monthly distributions.

First Trust AlphaDEX Global Energy Income Plus ETF (CAD-Hedged), seeks to provide Unitholders with exposure to higher yielding energy issuers that are involved in the crude oil and natural gas industries, as well as providing Unitholders with monthly distributions. First Trust AlphaDEX Global Energy Income Plus ETF (CAD-Hedged)  will primarily invest in common shares and ADRs of energy issuers listed on major U.S. stock exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ). In addition, First Trust AlphaDEX Global Energy Income Plus ETF (CAD-Hedged) will, from time to time, write covered call options on a portion of the portfolio in order to produce additional income.

First Trust Senior Loan ETF (CAD-Hedged), seeks to provide Unitholders with a high level of current income by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of senior floating rate loans and debt securities, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective. First Trust Senior Loan ETF (CAD-Hedged) will primarily invest in a portfolio of senior floating rate loans which are generally rated at or below BB+ by Standard & Poors, or Ba1 or less by Moody's Investor Services, Inc., or a similar rating by an approved credit rating organization.

A preliminary prospectus containing important information relating to securities of the new First Trust ETFs have been filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in all provinces and territories of Canada. The preliminary prospectus is still subject to completion or amendment. Copies of the preliminary prospectus may be downloaded at www.sedar.com. There will not be any sale or acceptance of an offer to buy securities until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued. Commissions, management fees, trailer fees and expenses all may be associated with the First Trust ETFs. ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated.

About First Trust

First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P. are well-respected global businesses with a history in the U.S. market since 1991. FT Portfolios Canada Co. was founded in 1996. First Trust Advisors L.P.is a leader in quantitative investing and oversees more than US$67 billion in global assets. The First Trust family of companies offers more than 200 investment products, including a line up of 90 exchange traded funds in the U.S.

SOURCE: FT Portfolios Canada Co.

Fraser Howell, President
FT Portfolios Canada Co.
330 Bay Street, Suite 1300
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2S8
1-877-622-5552