Horizons ETFs Announces Estimated 2012 Annual Capital Gains Distributions

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Horizons Exchange Traded Funds Inc. ("Horizons ETFs") announces today the estimated capital gains to be distributed to unitholders of certain of the exchange traded funds managed by its affiliates (the "ETFs") for the 2012 tax year as indicated in the table below.  With respect to the Horizons BetaPro family of leveraged, inverse, inverse leveraged, volatility and single ETFs, this would be the sixth consecutive year with no capital gains distributions and which includes the Horizons S&P/TSX 60^TM Index ETF and Horizons S&P 500® Index (C$ Hedged) ETF which have both completed 2 full calendar years of operations since their inception without any capital gains distributions to unitholders.

Please note that these are estimated amounts only. Circumstances may arise which could cause these estimates to change before the ETFs' tax year ends on December 15, 2012 and December 31, 2012, as applicable. 

Each of the ETFs is required to distribute any net income and capital gains that they have earned in the year. The final annual capital gains distributions will not be paid in cash but will be reinvested and reported as taxable distributions and will be used to increase each unitholder's adjusted cost base for the respective ETF. These estimated amounts are for the annual capital gains distributions and do not include estimates of any regular monthly, quarterly or semi-annual cash distributions, as applicable, including those capital gains that may form part of the monthly distributions for the Horizons Enhanced Income ETFs.

Horizons ETFs expects to announce the final year-end income and capital gains distribution amounts, as well as regular monthly, quarterly or semi-annual distribution amounts, on or about December 18 and 19, 2012.  The ex-dividend date for these distributions is anticipated to be December 27, 2012, for all unitholders of record on December 31, 2012.  In early 2013, the tax characteristics of all distributions for 2012 for the ETFs will be reported to brokers via CDS.

Reasons for the larger estimated capital gains distribution for:

HAL / HAL.A

The Horizons Active Cdn Dividend ETF ("HAL") realized a number of capital gains from long-time holdings during the year when the portfolio was rebalanced upon the appointment of Guardian Capital LP as the new sub-advisor to HAL.

Certain statements may constitute a forward looking statement, including those identified by the expressions "estimate" or "expect" and similar expressions (including grammatical variations thereof) to the extent they relate to the ETFs or Horizons ETFs. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the ETFs, the ETF's managers or Horizons ETFs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations.  These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the ETFs' forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the ETFs do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in the ETFs. The ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Please read the prospectus before investing.

About Horizons Exchange Traded Funds Inc. (www.horizonsetfs.com)
Horizons ETFs is an innovative financial services company offering the Horizons ETFs family of ETFs. The Horizons ETFs family includes a broadly diversified range of investment tools with solutions for investors of all experience levels to meet their investment objectives in a variety of market conditions. With approximately $3.5 billion in assets under management and 79 ETFs listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Horizons ETFs family makes up one of the largest families of ETFs in Canada. Horizons ETFs is a subsidiary of Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc. and a member of the Mirae Asset Financial Group. 

SOURCE: Horizons Exchange Traded Funds Inc.

For further information:

Martin Fabregas, Investor Relations, (416) 601-2508 or 1-866-641-5739