Horizons ETFs Launches Canada’s First Robotics and Automation Index ETF

Horizons ROBO seeks to replicate the performance of the ROBO Global® Robotics and Automation Index (the “Index”). The Index is designed to provide exposure to the performance of equity securities of robotics-related and/or automation-related companies. Horizons ROBO will be mainly invested in the equity securities of issuers within the Index and will seek to hedge its U.S. currency exposure to the Canadian dollar at all times.

Comprising more than 80 stocks focused on the entire robotics and automation industry, the Index includes securities from rapidly developing companies around the world – listings can be found on exchanges in 14 different countries, across 12 sub-sectors. As a rules-based Index, it employs specific investment criteria focused on companies that derive a portion of revenues and profits from robotics-related and/or automation-related products and/or services.

“We could be witnessing the most transformative technological change of our lifetime as robotics and automation start to become integral to much of what we do on a daily basis,” said Steve Hawkins, President and Co-CEO of Horizons ETFs. “Despite the quick ascendency of the Robotics, Automation and Artificial Intelligence sectors, it’s still in its very early days. This could be the largest untapped investment opportunity for Canadian investors, particularly since very few likely own these stocks in their equity portfolios.”

Finding issuers that derive significant revenues from robotics and automation requires substantial expertise and knowledge. It is for this reason Horizons ETFs partnered with ROBO Global LLC (“ROBO Global”), a leading investment research and index provider covering the Robotics, Automation and Artificial Intelligence (“A.I.”) industries. ROBO Global launched the original U.S.-domiciled ROBO Global® Robotics and Automation ETF (“ROBO”) in August 2013, along with its underlying Index.

Year-to-date, the U.S. version of ROBO (listed on the NASDAQ) has been the fastest-growing ETF in the U.S. On January 1, 2017, the U.S. version of ROBO had U.S. $134.7 million in assets under management (“AUM”). By October 31, 2017, it had nearly U.S. $1.7 billion in AUM. The global robotics technology market is expected to reach U.S. $82.7 billion by 2020, according to Allied Market Research (May 2015).

“We’re excited to partner with Horizons ETFs to potentially enhance the portfolios of Canadian investors, by giving them an easier way to access the sector of Robotics, Automation and Artificial Intelligence,” said Travis Biggs, CEO of ROBO Global, U.S. “We feel Horizons ETFs is an excellent partner, based on their success in bringing innovative ETF solutions to Canadians.”

Horizons ROBO has closed its initial offering of units and will begin trading on the TSX when the market opens this morning.