Manulife adds emerging markets ETF to multifactor suite

Dec 11th, 2018 | By | Category: Equities

Manulife has launched the Manulife Multifactor Emerging Markets Index ETF (MEME CN) on Toronto Stock Exchange.

Bernard Letendre, Head of Wealth and Asset Management for Manulife.

Bernard Letendre, Head of Wealth and Asset Management, Manulife Canada.

The fund, brought to market in partnership with smart beta specialist Dimensional Fund Advisors, targets returns attributable to size, value, and quality factor risk premia through a portfolio of emerging market equities.

The chosen factors are based in part on the research of Nobel Laureate Eugene Fama and renowned researcher Kenneth French, both of whom serve on Dimensional’s board of directors.

Dimensional is considered a pioneer in the factor-investing and smart beta space, having developed its approach over 35 years of market research.

The ETF is linked to the John Hancock Dimensional Emerging Markets Index which has a target universe of 80% of the largest stocks in investable emerging market countries. Constituents are then weighted to favour firms with smaller market capitalisations, lower relative prices, and higher profitability.

The fund comes with a management expense ratio (MER) of 0.65%.

Manulife and Dimensional already offer an extensive suite of similar multifactor ETFs. The range, outlined below, includes funds offering exposure to Canadian, US large-cap, US mid-cap, and international (ex-North America) equities.

Manulife Multifactor Canadian Large Cap Index ETF (MCLC CN). MER – 0.40%
Manulife Multifactor US Large Cap Index ETF (MULC CN)
. MER – 0.35%
Manulife Multifactor US Mid Cap Index ETF (MUMC CN)
. MER – 0.45%
Manulife Multifactor Developed International Index ETF (MINT CN)
. MER – 0.50%

“We believe that offering our investors a holistic suite of investment products ensures that they have access to an excellent value proposition,” said Bernard Letendre, Head of Wealth and Asset Management, Manulife Canada. “This latest addition to our ETF platform is a reflection of our commitment to offering our clients competitive products that will help make their decisions easier and lives better every day.”

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