AllianzIM Debuts August Buffered ETF Series Amid Rising Demand for Risk Mitigation Tools

MINNEAPOLIS – Aug. 1, 2023 - Allianz Investment Management LLC (AllianzIM), a subsidiary of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, announced today the launch of its latest series of Buffered ETFs. The August Buffered ETFs series includes two 12-month outcome period ETFs: AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer10 Aug ETF (NYSE Arca: AUGT) and the AllianzIM U.S. Large Cap Buffer20 Aug ETF (NYSE Arca: AUGW).

Despite signs that inflation is cooling, worries of an economic slowdown are prevailing among most Americans. The August Buffered ETFs series equips investors’ portfolios with an added layer to seek risk mitigation during these unpredictable times. The ETFs seek a downside Buffer of 10% or 20% against market drops, while allowing investors to participate in the upside potential of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust up to a stated Cap.

As economic uncertainty persists, an increasing number of Americans want financial products that help mitigate market risks. According to Allianz Life’s Q2 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study, 69% of Americans say it is important to have some of their retirement savings in a financial product that may help protect it from market loss, up from 60% at this time last year.

“The latest CPI print indicated that inflation is finally cooling in the U.S., sending equity markets higher,” said Johan Grahn, Head ETF Market Strategist at AllianzIM. “Our Buffered ETFs help investors who don’t want to leave cash on the sidelines take advantage of these potential equity market returns.”

Offered at an expense ratio of 74 basis points¹, AllianzIM’s extensive suite of Buffered ETFs is offered with six and 12-month Outcome Periods. The 12-month Outcome Period of the August ETF series will be August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024. Each Outcome Period reflects a new stated Cap commensurate with prevailing market conditions, allowing investors to remain invested with a level of risk mitigation.

"Investors will experience many highs and lows in their lifetime, but at Allianz we are committed to delivering solutions that can be a staple in their portfolio regardless of economic conditions,” said Brian Muench, President of AllianzIM. “Expanding our Buffered ETFs suite provides investors with additional avenues to manage risk while potentially capitalizing on market gains to help achieve their financial goals.”

The AllianzIM Buffered ETFs seek to leverage AllianzIM’s core strengths, which include risk management experience and in-house hedging capabilities. As part of one of the largest asset management and diversified insurance companies in the world (Allianz SE), AllianzIM is powered by the same proprietary in-house hedging platform that is used among affiliates to help manage more than $143 billion (as of 3/31/23) in hedged assets for institutional and retail investors around the globe. Offering a new way to help investors to mitigate risk and reduce volatility, these ETFs complement Allianz Life’s suite of annuity and life insurance products.

For more information on the AllianzIM Buffered ETF suite, please visit www.allianzIMetfs.com

1. Gross reflects the Cap and Buffer prior to taking into account the 0.74% expense ratio of the ETF while Net accounts for the expense ratio, but does not include brokerage commissions, trading fees, taxes and non-routine or extraordinary expenses. The Cap and Buffer experienced by investors may be different than the stated numbers. The funds’ website, at www.allianzIMetfs.com, provides important fund information as well as information relating to the potential outcomes of an investment in the Fund on a daily basis.
2. Allianz Life conducted an online survey, the 2023 Q2 Quarterly Market Perceptions Study in May 2023 with a nationally representative sample of 1,004 Respondents age 18+.

Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please visit www.allianzIMetfs.com or call 877.429.3837. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

There is no guarantee the funds will achieve their investment objectives. You may lose your entire investment, regardless of when you purchase shares, and even if you hold shares for an entire Outcome Period. The Fund may not be suitable for all investors.

To learn more, visit www.allianzIMetfs.com

To achieve the target outcomes sought by the Fund for an Outcome Period, an investor must hold Fund Shares for that entire Outcome Period. An investor that purchases Fund Shares after the Outcome Period has begun or sells Fund Shares prior to the end of the Outcome Period may experience results that are very different from the investment objective sought by the Fund for that Outcome Period.

Investors may lose their entire investment, regardless of when they purchase shares, and even if they hold shares for an entire Outcome Period. Full extent of Caps and Buffers only apply if held for stated Outcome Period and are not guaranteed. The Cap may increase or decrease and may vary significantly.

The Funds seek to deliver returns that match, at the end of a specified one-year or six-month period (outcome period) the share price returns of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust up to a predetermined Cap, while limiting downside losses by the amount of a specified Buffer, before fees and expenses.