Wilmington Trust Family of Funds Debuts Multi-Strategy Hedge Mutual Fund

Wilmington Rock Maple Alternatives Fund goal is long-term growth through consistent returns with low correlation to broad stock and bond markets

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Wilmington Trust

Apr 10, 2012, 08:00 ET

WILMINGTON, Del., April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilmington Trust launched a new mutual fund, Wilmington Rock Maple Alternatives Fund, which provides exposure to a diverse set of alternative strategies. The fund is managed by a team of experienced professionals with expertise in selecting and blending investment strategies with complementary styles, risk exposures, and opportunities. The goal of the fund is to deliver long-term growth of capital through consistent returns with a low correlation to traditional asset classes.

The fund's portfolio managers selected eight independent sub-advisors, which will oversee separate sub-portfolios of the fund in accordance with specific parameters, constraints, and risk-return objectives. The fund also has assets invested in two independently managed mutual funds. It commenced investment operations on Jan. 12, 2012.

The mutual fund is managed by Wilmington Funds Management Corporation (WFMC), a Wilmington Trust company, in partnership with Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. (WTIA), and Rock Maple Services, LLC (Rock Maple), an investment advisor specializing in alternative investments.

"We are excited to offer clients a new vehicle to diversify their investment exposures and dampen the overall volatility of their portfolios," said Sam Fraundorf, CFA, president of WTIA. "We are pleased to partner with Rock Maple Funds to launch this product and deliver a truly unique fund for our clients."

Doug Fincher, president and CEO of Rock Maple, said, "We firmly believe investors wanting hedge fund strategies can benefit most from exposure to these strategies through an independent multi manager vehicle. Our partnership with Wilmington Trust allows us to provide this expertise in a mutual fund structure."

"Diversification among managers and strategies is a key element in pursuing our investment objective," said Greg Silberman, CA (SA), CFA, vice president and director of hedge funds for Wilmington Trust. "We believe the fund can generate consistent, risk-adjusted returns by adhering to the strict, clearly defined processes in place for manager selection, portfolio construction, and risk management."

According to a recent report by Morningstar®, assets in alternative mutual funds totaled nearly $80 billion as of Dec. 31, 2011. Such funds accounted for less than one percent of all mutual fund assets.

About Rock Maple

Rock Maple Services, LLC, a New York-based, SEC-registered investment advisor with $800 million in assets under advisement as of Dec. 31, 2011, is a Wilmington Trust partner, providing manager selection and due diligence, portfolio construction, and risk management services for Wilmington Rock Maple Alternatives Fund.

About Wilmington Trust

Wilmington Trust provides Wealth Advisory services for high-net-worth clients throughout the United States and Europe, and Corporate Client Services for institutional clients throughout the world. Wilmington Trust has offices in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, London, Dublin, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, and Amsterdam. Wilmington Trust is an M&T Bank affiliate. For more information, visit www.wilmingtontrust.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Kent Wissinger, Wilmington Trust Communication Manager, (302)651-8758

You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Wilmington Funds before investing. A prospectus with this and other important information may be obtained by calling 800-836-2211 or by visiting www.wilmingtonfunds.com. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Wilmington Funds Management Corporation, a subsidiary of Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (M&T Bank), is the investment advisor to the funds. Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors, Inc. is the sub-advisor of the funds. ALPS Distributors, Inc., which is not affiliated with M&T Bank, is the distributor of the fund. The fund is not a deposit of, or other obligation of, or guaranteed by Wilmington Trust or any other bank or entity. It is not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental agency.

Alternative strategies may use aggressive investment approaches, which can be riskier than those typically associated with mutual funds and may not be suitable for all investors. If a fund employing alternative strategies is unsuccessful, the fund and you may lose more money than if you had invested in another fund that did not invest aggressively.

Alternative strategies are subject to risks associated with sub‐advisers making trading decisions independently, investing in other investment companies, using a particular style or set of styles basing investment decisions on historical relationships and correlations, trading frequently, using leverage, making short sales, being non‐diversified and investing in securities with low correlation to the market. The use of leverage may magnify losses.

Alternative strategies are also subject to risks associated with investments in developed foreign markets, emerging market securities, small cap companies, debt securities, derivatives, commodity‐linked instruments, illiquid securities, asset‐backed securities and CMOs.

Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus for any fund for detailed information on risk considerations. Investors should develop a thorough understanding of the risks of any investment prior to investing. Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against a loss. There is no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.

CFA^® and Chartered Financial Analyst^® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

MTB002382 (03/2013)

SOURCE Wilmington Trust