Launch Announced for AdvisorShares Athena High Dividend ETF (DIVI)

BETHESDA, Md., July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AdvisorShares, a leading sponsor of actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), announced today that the AdvisorShares Athena High Dividend ETF (NYSE Arca: DIVI) will begin trading tomorrow, July 30, 2014. DIVI is managed by AthenaInvest Advisors LLC, a Denver area-based SEC registered investment adviser and industry leader in Behavioral Portfolio Management (BPM) with its patented behavioral research process and proprietary investment strategies. Dr. C. Thomas Howard, PhD, co-founder and chief investment officer of Athena, serves as the portfolio manager of DIVI.

In pursuing DIVI's investment objective, Athena seeks long-term capital appreciation – through a behavioral portfolio management approach that invests in both U.S. and foreign stocks of any capitalization range with a dividend overlay. Athena's behavioral factor-driven investment process measures active stock fund managers' behavior, strategy consistency and conviction, and identifies securities which are held in the top relative weight positions within the equity universe. Sector, strategy and country diversification are used to reduce risk, as the portfolio manager takes these top relative weight positions and then utilizes a dividend overlay that selects high-yielding stocks for a dividend-weighted investment portfolio.

"The need for shareholder yield is well known, however, most equity dividend funds focus on dividends first and stock selection second. DIVI aims to provide high yield to investors while taking a patented behavioral approach to stock selection," said Noah Hamman, chief executive officer of AdvisorShares. "We feel many investors are seeking high income with less exposure to credit and interest rate risk, and DIVI looks to provide an established investment approach to selecting stocks with the additional benefits of a high yielding dividend income strategy. We believe DIVI, with its active ETF structure, is positioned to present a compelling single investment diversifier for investors and advisors to consider."

"The popular notion in the marketplace is that people are rational and markets are efficient, but in reality, there is an overwhelming presence of emotions involved in investment decisions which creates inefficiencies in the marketplace," said Dr. Howard. "Those inefficiencies, or distortions, when systemically analyzed can generate opportunities for investment selection and portfolio performance, which we believe can benefit DIVI's shareholders. We are pleased to partner with AdvisorShares to deliver a diversified, dividend-yielding global equity portfolio through the intraday liquidity, daily transparency and overall efficiency of an actively managed ETF."

For media inquiries requesting more information on AdvisorShares, please contact Ryan Graham at 202-684-6442 or [email protected]. For financial professionals and investors requesting more information, please visit www.advisorshares.com or call the AdvisorShares Investment Consultant Team at 1-877-THE-ETF1 (1-877-843-3831).

About AdvisorShares

AdvisorShares is one of the leading providers of actively managed ETFs. As of July 25, 2014, AdvisorShares offers 25 active ETFs currently trading with over $1.8 billion of assets under management. AdvisorShares provides educational support to help financial advisors and investors understand the benefits of actively managed ETFs and their underlying investment strategies.

Please visit www.advisorshares.com to register for free weekly economic commentary. For educational insight into the active ETF marketplace, visit www.alphabaskets.com, follow @AdvisorShares on Twitter and 'Like' us on Facebook. Every Thursday at 4:00pm Eastern time, AdvisorShares hosts an educational conference call for Financial Professionals featuring our portfolio managers and leading investment industry experts. On Thursday, July 31^st, the call will feature Dr. Tom Howard to discuss the actively managed DIVI—Dial: 1-800-977-8002; Code: 777534#

About AthenaInvest Advisors, LLC

AthenaInvest is the industry leader in behavioral portfolio management with a patented behavioral research process built on a deep academic foundation and developed over 35 years of interaction with leading academics and institutional money managers by C. Thomas Howard, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research. AthenaInvest delivers next generation investment strategies that use persistent and predictive behavioral factors in a rigorous and disciplined investment approach designed to build portfolios that perform. Athena is also sub-advisor to the AdvisorShares Athena International Bear ETF (NYSE Arca: HDGI), the only international all-short actively managed ETF in the marketplace.

Before investing you should carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information is in the prospectus, a copy of which may be obtained by visiting the Fund's website at www.AdvisorShares.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.

Foreside Fund Services, LLC, distributor.

There is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. An investment in the Fund is subject to risk, including the loss of principal amount invested. The Fund may invest in Exchange-Traded Vehicles which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such vehicle's investments or reference asset in the case of ETNs, including the possibility that value of the securities could decrease. The Fund also invests in American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") which may be less liquid than the underlying securities and closed end funds are expected fluctuate which may cause prices to be higher or lower than the net asset value of the closed end fund holdings. Real Estate Investment Trust Risk ("REITs") will be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership or real estate such as fluctuation in value of property and defaults by borrowers or tenants. Other Fund risks include equity risk, foreign securities risk, investment risk, liquidity risk, marketing risk, trading risk. See prospectus for details regarding specific risks. This Fund may not be suitable for all investors.

Shares are bought and sold at market price not net asset value (NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Market price returns are based on the midpoint of the bid/ask spread at 4:00 pm Eastern Time (when NAV is normally determined) and do not represent the return you would receive if you traded at other times.

Press Contact: Ryan Graham
AdvisorShares
202-684-6442
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/PH64986LOGO

SOURCE AdvisorShares