MVIS Licenses GDP-Weighted Indices to Van Eck Global to Underlie ETFs

MVIS Licenses GDP-Weighted Indices to Van Eck Global to Underlie ETFs

MVGDP Africa and MV GDP Gulf Cooperation Council Indices replace previous benchmarks of Van Eck's Africa and Gulf States ETFs

FRANKFURT, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Market Vectors Index Solutions GmbH (MVIS - www.marketvectorsindices.com) today announced the licensing of the Market Vectors GDP Africa Index (MVAFKTR) and the Market Vectors GDP GCC Index (MVMESTR) to Van Eck Global, the 7^th largest provider of exchange-traded products in the US and the 10^th largest globally. The indices replace the previous index benchmarks of Market Vectors Africa Index ETF (NYSE Arca: AFK) and Market Vectors Gulf States Index ETF (NYSE Arca: MES) which begin tracking the new benchmarks today, 24 June 2013.

"We are pleased to announce the first licensing of GDP-weighted Market Vectors indices," said Lars Hamich, CEO at MVIS. "The GDP-based approach of the indices takes into account the specifics of emerging market countries. These countries often have fast growing economies but less developed financial markets and are mostly underweighted in market capitalisation-weighted indices," added Mr. Hamich. "Moreover, the pure-play concept of Market Vectors indices, includes offshore companies, which are companies that are incorporated outside of e.g. Africa but generate at least 50% of their revenues there. 21% of all components in the MV GDP Africa Index are offshore companies. In this index, almost 70% of the Materials sector and more than 90% of the Energy sector are represented by offshore companies."

GDP Indices provide an alternative view of markets. Other than traditional regional or global indices weighted by market-capitalisation, GDP indices assign country weightings based on a country's gross domestic product.

MVIS currently offers a selection of five Market Vectors GDP-weighted indices: MV GDP Africa Index, MV GDP GCC Index, MV GDP Emerging Markets Index, MV GDP Emerging Europe ex Russia Index and MV GDP World ex US Index.

Detailed information about the Market Vectors GDP-weighted indices and the full range of Market Vectors Indices, including methodology details and comprehensive data is available on marketvectorsindices.com.

Note to Editors:

About Market Vectors Index Solutions GmbH

Market Vectors Index Solutions GmbH (MVIS) develops, monitors and licenses the Market Vectors Indices, a selection of focused, investable and diversified benchmark indices which are especially designed to underlie financial products. Market Vectors Indices cover several asset classes, including hard assets and international equity markets as well as fixed income markets and are licensed to serve as underlying indices for financial products. Approximately USD 11.8 billion in assets under management are currently invested in financial products based on Market Vectors Indices. MVIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation (also known as Van Eck Global).

Market Vectors Index Solutions
Lars Hamich, +49 (0)69 4056 695 10
lars.hamich@mvindices.com
MacMillan Communications
Mike MacMillan, +1-212-473-4442
mike@macmillancom.com

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