Claymore Announces 11 ETF Closings

February 1, 2008

SAN DIEGO (ETFguide.com) - Is this the first round of ETF liquidations or are more on the way?

Today, Lisle, IL-based Claymore Securities announced that it intends to liquidate several lightly followed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) representing less than 2 percent of the firm’s U.S. ETF assets.

“There is a natural selection process when it comes to investment options and we will continue to offer products where there’s the potential for marketplace appeal,” said Christian Magoon, Senior Managing Director and Head of the ETF Group for Claymore Securities.

In 2007, Claymore was the third fastest growing ETF provider.

This past week the firm launched the Claymore/AlphaShares China Small Cap Index ETF (Ticker: HAO) and it still plans to launch several additional ETFs in 2008.

Shareholders may sell their holdings prior to February 20, 2008, incurring a transaction fee from their broker-dealer. From February 20, 2008, through February 28, 2008, shareholders may be able to sell their shares to certain broker-dealers, but there can be no assurance that there will be a market for the funds. All shareholders remaining on February 28, 2008, will receive the value of their shares as of February 28, 2008 which will include any capital gains and dividends into the cash portion of their brokerage accounts. 

The AMEX will halt trading in the funds before the open of trading on February 20, 2008 and the funds will be closed to new investment on that date.

The liquidations affect the following ETFs:

--Claymore/BIR Leaders 50 ETF (BST)

--Claymore/BIR Leaders Mid-Cap Value ETF (BMV)

--Claymore/BIR Leaders Small-Cap Core ETF (BES)

--Claymore/Robeco Boston Partners Large-Cap Value ETF (CLV)

--Claymore/LGA Green ETF (GRN)

--Claymore/KLD Sudan Free Large-Cap Core ETF (KSF)

--Claymore/Clear Mid-Cap Growth Index ETF (MCG)

--Claymore/Zacks Growth & Income Index ETF (CZG)

--Claymore/IndexIQ Small-Cap Value ETF (SCV)

--Claymore/Robeco Developed World Equity ETF  (EEW)

--Claymore/Clear Global Vaccine Index ETF (JNR)