BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE:STT), today announced that on Monday, September 19, 2016, the benchmark index for the Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLF) will be rebalanced, effective before the opening of business. The list of securities applicable to all creation and redemption orders placed on Friday, September 16, 2016, will be based on pre-rebalance Fund holdings instead of index holdings (the normal basket). The list of securities applicable to all creation and redemption orders placed on Monday, September 19, 2016, and thereafter, will be based on post-rebalance index holdings.

In addition, the Fund will declare a quarterly cash distribution ex-date 9/16/2016 and special share distribution of XLRE shares ex-date 9/19/2016. The Fund will maintain its existing procedure by not adjusting the estimated cash component/NAV for the cash distribution for the basket trade date 9/16/2016. However, the Fund will adjust the NAV to affect the basket for trade date 9/19/2016 to reflect the special share distribution of XLRE.

The trust will value XLRE at NAV on Friday September 16, 2016. Investors seeking to track the index should consider trading strategies that achieve NAV with this information in mind.

About SPDR Exchange Traded Funds

SPDR ETFs are a comprehensive family spanning an array of international and domestic asset classes. SPDR ETFs are managed by SSGA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. The funds provide investors with the flexibility to select investments that are precisely aligned to their investment strategy. Recognized as an industry pioneer, State Street created the first US listed ETF in 1993 (SPDR S&P 500® – Ticker SPY) and has remained on the forefront of responsible innovation, as evidenced by the introduction of many ground-breaking products, including first-to-market launches with gold, international real estate, international fixed income, and sector ETFs. For more information, visit www.spdrs.com.

About State Street Global Advisors

For nearly four decades, State Street Global Advisors has been committed to helping financial professionals and those who rely on them achieve their investment objectives. We partner with institutions and financial professionals to help them reach their goals through a rigorous, research-driven process spanning both active and index disciplines. We take pride in working closely with our clients to develop precise investment strategies, including our pioneering family of SPDR® ETFs. With approximately 28 trillion in assets under custody and administration and 2 trillion* in assets under management, our scale and global footprint provide unrivaled access to markets and asset classes, and allow us to deliver expert insights and investment solutions.

State Street Global Advisors is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

*Assets under management were $2.3 trillion as of June 30, 2016. AUM reflects approx. $40 billion (as of 6/30/2016) with respect to which State Street Global Markets, LLC (SSGM) serves as marketing agent; SSGM and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.

In general, ETFs can be expected to move up or down in value with the value of the applicable index. Although ETF shares may be bought and sold on the exchange through any brokerage account, ETF shares are not individually redeemable from the Fund. Investors may acquire ETFs and tender them for redemption through the Fund in Creation Unit Aggregations only. Please see the prospectus for more details.

ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF's net asset value. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns. Index-based ETFs are passively managed and seek to track an index of securities. Expenses may cause the ETF's returns to deviate from the returns of the index.

Equity Securities may increase or decrease as a result of market fluctuations, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in stock prices.

Financial Services Sector Concentration Risk. Financial services companies may be subject to the risks of government regulation, deterioration of credit markets, losses resulting from financial difficulties of borrowers and losses resulting from investment activities.

Non-diversified funds invest a greater portion of assets in fewer securities and therefore may be more vulnerable to adverse changes in the market.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) investing may be subject to risks including, but not limited to, declines in the value of real estate, risks related to general economic conditions, changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trust and defaults by borrowers.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index performance does not reflect charges and expenses associated with the fund or brokerage commissions associated with buying and selling a fund. Index performance is not meant to represent that of any particular fund.

Investing involves risk, including the risk of loss of principal.

Select Sector SPDR Funds bear a higher level of risk than more broadly diversified funds. All ETFs are subject to risk, including the possible loss of principal. Sector ETFs products are also subject to sector risk and nondiversification risk, which generally results in greater price fluctuations than the overall market.

Standard & Poor’s, S&P and SPDR are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P); Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (Dow Jones); and these trademarks have been licensed for use by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (SPDJI) and sublicensed for certain purposes by State Street Corporation. State Street Corporation’s financial products are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by SPDJI, Dow Jones, S&P, their respective affiliates and third party licensors and none of such parties make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in such product(s) nor do they have any liability in relation thereto, including for any errors, omissions, or interruptions of any index.

Distributor: State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs. ALPS Distributors, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for SPDR® S&P® 500, SPDR® S&P® MidCap 400 and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average, and all unit investment trusts. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. is distributor for Select Sector SPDRs. ALPS Distributors, Inc. and ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. are not affiliated with State Street Global Markets, LLC.

Before investing, consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 1-866-SECTOR-ETF or visit http://www.sectorspdr.com/sectorspdr/ to download a prospectus or summary prospectus now, or talk to your financial advisor. Read it carefully

Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value

(C) 2016 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved

Expiration date: 09/30/2017

CORP-2209

SSL000729

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160916005460/en/