BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AdvisorShares, a leading sponsor of 17 actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs), announced today that the AdvisorShares Peritus High Yield ETF (NYSE Arca: HYLD), the first high yield actively-managed ETF has met listing requirements of the Chicago Board Options Exchange® (CBOE®) and that HYLD options are now listed for trading on the CBOE.

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"This marks another exciting advance for actively managed ETFs as investors and financial advisors now have another way to access strategies that can provide ways to insure a portfolio," said Noah Hamman, CEO of AdvisorShares. "We believe HYLD is at a competitive advantage as its options provide a feature that actively managed mutual funds can't afford, as well as its ability to invest in larger high yield bond tranches than other ETFs. Having HYLD meeting CBOE listing requirements further reinforces the continuing growth and interest by investors in actively managed ETFs."

A security must satisfy CBOE requirements before listing options for its distribution that includes possessing a certain number of outstanding shares, which must be owned by a minimum number of shareholders. Otherwise, ownership of the security is deemed too highly concentrated.

More information on HYLD can be found on the AdvisorShares website at http://hyld.advisorshares.com.

For media inquiries requesting more information on AdvisorShares, please contact Ryan Graham at 202-684-6442 or rg@advisorshares.com.  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).

To sign up for our free weekly economic commentary, please register at www.advisorshares.com. For insight into the ETF marketplace, please follow AdvisorShares on Twitter and 'Like' us on Facebook.  Every Thursday at 4:00pm EST, AdvisorShares hosts an educational conference call for Financial Professionals featuring our portfolio managers and leading investment industry experts -- Dial: 1-800-977-8002; Code: 777534#

About AdvisorShares

AdvisorShares is one of the leading providers of actively managed ETFs.  As of 12/27/2012, AdvisorShares offers 17 active ETFs with approximately $620,000,000 of assets under management.

To sign up for our free weekly economic commentary, please register at www.advisorshares.com. For insight into the ETF marketplace, please follow AdvisorShares on Twitter and 'Like' us on Facebook.  Every Thursday at 4:00pm EST, AdvisorShares hosts an educational conference call for Financial Professionals featuring our portfolio managers and leading investment industry experts -- Dial: 1-800-977-8002; Code: 777534#

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. 

An investment in the Fund is subject to risk, including the possible loss of principal amount invested. Non-diversification exposes the Fund to greater market risk than if its assets were diversified among a greater number of issuers and/or sectors. High yield, lower rated bonds involve a greater degree of risk than investment grade bonds in return for higher yield potential. As such, securities rated below investment grade generally entail greater credit, market, issuer and liquidity risk than investment grade securities. Interest rate risk occurs when interest rates rise as bond prices usually fall. This Fund may not be suitable for all investors.

An Option is a privilege, sold by one party to another that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) a stock at an agreed-upon price within a certain period or on a specific date.

SOURCE AdvisorShares