CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 06/03/10 -- Invesco PowerShares, a leading provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), announced the PowerShares International Corporate Bond Portfolio began trading today on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol PICB. The fund is expected to issue monthly distributions.

"The PowerShares International Corporate Bond Portfolio broadens our innovative family of fixed-income ETFs by providing unique access to investment-grade corporate bonds issued in developed markets outside the United States," said Ben Fulton, Invesco PowerShares managing director of global ETFs. "International corporate bonds tend to perform differently than domestic bonds and historically have exhibited a low correlation with major asset classes. We believe PICB significantly improves access to this previously difficult to reach segment of the bond market providing investors an important new tool to meet their investment objectives."

The PowerShares International Corporate Bond Portfolio (PICB) is based on the S&P International Corporate Bond Index. The fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in the securities that comprise the Index. This Index measures the performance of investment-grade corporate bonds issued by non-U.S. issuers in the following G-10 currencies: Australia dollar (AUD), British pound (GBP), Canadian dollar (CAD), Euro (EUR), Japanese yen (JPY), Swiss franc (CHF), Danish krone (DKK), New Zealand dollar (NZD), Norwegian krone (NOK) and Swedish krona (SEK).

For inclusion in the index, each bond must be rated investment grade by Standard & Poor's or Moody's Investors Service, Inc. with the lower of the two ratings used to determine eligibility.(1) Each bond must also have a minimum threshold outstanding, respective to the currency in which it is issued. The weighting of each bond in the index is based on its outstanding market value, but the aggregate weight of the bonds in a single currency may not exceed 50%.

The index uses a modified market-capitalization weighted methodology and is reconstituted and rebalanced monthly. The index methodology also includes a yield enhancement feature. At each monthly rebalance, any currency with more than 10 eligible bonds will have the lowest yielding quartile of bonds removed from that currency's eligible universe.

Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC is Leading the Intelligent ETF Revolution® through its family of more than 120 domestic and international exchange-traded funds, which seek to outperform traditional benchmark indexes while providing advisors and investors access to an innovative array of focused investment opportunities. With franchise assets over $47 billion as of March 31, 2010, PowerShares ETFs trade on both U.S. stock exchanges. For more information, please visit us at www.invescopowershares.com.

Invesco PowerShares is part of Invesco Ltd., a leading independent global investment manager, dedicated to helping investors worldwide achieve their financial objectives. By delivering the combined power of our distinctive investment management capabilities, Invesco provides a wide range of investment strategies and vehicles to our retail, institutional and high net worth clients around the world. Operating in 20 countries, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IVZ. Additional information is available at www.invesco.com.

(1) A classification given to a bond when its credit rating is BBB- or higher from Standard & Poor's or Baa3 or higher from Moody's. Credit ratings are assigned by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations based on assessment of the credit worthiness of the underlying securities. The ratings range from AAA (highest) to D (lowest).

There are risks involved with investing in ETFs including possible loss of money. Shares are not actively managed and are subject to risks similar to those of stocks. Ordinary brokerage commissions apply.

Shares are not individually redeemable and owners of the Shares may acquire those Shares from the Funds and tender those Shares for redemption to the Funds in Creation Units only, typically consisting of 50,000 Shares.

The Fund invests in debt securities, which carry interest rate and credit risk. Interest rate risk refers to the risk that bond prices generally fall as interest rates rise and vice versa. Credit risk is the risk of loss on an investment due to the deterioration of an issuer's financial health.

The Fund invests in corporate bonds issued by non-U.S. companies. Much of the income received by the Fund will be in foreign currencies and is subject to the fluctuation of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign securities have additional risks, including exchange-rate changes, decreased market liquidity, political instability and taxation by foreign governments.

The Fund's underlying securities may be subject to call risk, which may result in the Fund having to reinvest the proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund's income.

The Fund's use of a representative sampling approach will result in its holding a smaller number of securities than are in the underlying Index, and may be subject to greater volatility.

The Fund is considered non-diversified and can invest a greater portion of assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, changes in the market value of a single investment could cause greater fluctuations in the share price than would occur in a diversified fund.

Unlike most ETFs, the Fund currently intends to effect redemptions principally for cash and partially in-kind, rather than primarily in-kind redemptions because of the nature of the Fund's investments. As such, investments in Shares may be less tax efficient than investments in conventional ETFs.

Standard & Poor's® and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P") and have been licensed for use by Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC. The Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P or its affiliates, and S&P and its affiliates make no representation, warranty or condition regarding the advisability of buying, selling or holding units/shares in the Funds.

Invesco Distributors, Inc. is the distributor of the PowerShares Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II.

PowerShares® is a registered trademark of Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC. Invesco PowerShares Capital Management LLC and Invesco Distributors, Inc. are indirect, wholly owned subsidiaries of Invesco Ltd.

An investor should consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For this and more complete information about the Fund, call 800 983 0903 or visit invescopowershares.com for a prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

Not FDIC Insured | May Lose Value | No Bank Guarantee