Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management (DeAWM), the asset manager behind the db X-trackers brand of exchange-traded funds, is to switch a further 12 of its European listed ETFs from indirect, synthetic, to direct, physical replication.
The latest switch in ETF replication methodology mainly covers exposures to the equity markets of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and represents approximately €2.5 billion in assets.
It follows the successful conversion earlier this year of 18 db X-trackers ETFs from synthetic to physical replication, a move that made DeAWM one of Europe’s largest providers of physical ETFs.
The Frankfurt-headquartered firm last year launched the world’s first physical replication ETF outside of China to provide exposure to domestic Chinese A-Shares. The db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF (ASHR) listed on the NYSE in November and provides exposure to the CSI 300 Index. This was followed by the launch of Europe’s first physical replication ETF providing exposure to the CSI 300 in January, with the listing in London, Milan and Frankfurt of the db X-trackers Harvest CSI300 Index UCITS ETF (DR).
With the latest conversions in place, DeAWM will have six direct replication ETFs providing exposure to Chinese equities, covering A-Shares and H-Shares indices.
Arne Noack, DeAWM’s Head of Exchange Traded Product Development, EMEA, commented: “With the conversion of these funds DeAWM further expands its physical replication ETF offering, while at the same time becoming a significant provider of physical replication ETFs on the Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges.”
The 12 ETFs scheduled to switch to direct physical replication are as follows:
db X-trackers MSCI Japan Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Singapore Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI China Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers FTSE China 25 UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Philippines Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Malaysia Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Korea Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Taiwan Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Thailand Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Pacific ex Japan Index UCITS ETF
db X-trackers S&P/ASX 200 UCITS ETF
db X-trackers MSCI Brazil Index UCITS ETF