Cohen&Steers and ALPS Introduce Real Estate ETF

The new Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF (AMEX: GRI), which began trading Friday, is advised by ALPS Advisers, Inc. ALPS is a provider of outsourced and advisory solutions to the investment management industry.

In a news release, the companies said the ETF seeks investment results that correspond to the performance of the Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors Index, which comprises securities of companies that have been evaluated on management strength and track record, market position, and the composition and quality of their real estate portfolios, among other factors. The index is provided by investment manager Cohen & Steers.

Cohen & Steers Global Realty Majors ETF targets 75 real estate companies from an initial universe of 500 that are located in developed markets across North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. The release said the companies are selected through a bottom-up process that uses quantitative screens and qualitative analysis to identify those real estate companies that are best positioned to gain from the securitization of global real estate.

“In our view, real estate is one of the best and most direct ways to invest in a country’s or region’s economy, which makes it a powerful tool for diversification,’ said Martin Cohen, co-chairman and co-CEO of Cohen & Steers.The release said incorporating real estate securities into an ETF structure might provide investors with the low expenses, tax efficiency, transparency, and liquidity that ETFs provide, along with an opportunity to benefit from the potentially substantial and growing long-term income streams and diversification benefits that real estate securities might provide.

Many governments around the world have introduced or are evaluating the introduction of real estate investment structures similar to U.S. REITs, the release said. The release cited S&P/Citigroup World Property Broad Market Index data that said the total market capitalization of global real estate securities has already increased from $110 billion in 1992 to $1.1 trillion in 2007.

For more information on GRI, visit www.alpsetfs.com or call 866-513-5856.