MutualFundWire.com: A $267B-AUM AM Enters the U.S. ETF Biz

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Monday, May 19, 2025

A $267B-AUM AM Enters the U.S. ETF Biz

The team at a $267-billion-AUM (as of March 31), multinational, Swiss asset manager are entering the ETF business on this side of the pond.

Last Monday (May 12), Jared Buell, head of U.S. intermediary at Vontobel, and David Souccar, executive director and portfolio manager, unveiled the launch of the Vontobel International Equity Active ETF (VNIE on the NYSE Arca, Inc.). Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. serves as investment advisor to the new fund.

VNIE's inception date was May 14, and it comes with an expense ratio of 60 basis points (which bakes in a 51bps fee waiver promised through April 30, 2027). The ETF now has $1.26 million in AUM.

The PM team for VNIE includes three people:

Matthew Benkendorf, managing director at Vontobel;

Daniel Kranson, executive director; and

Souccar.

Buell notes that the Vontobel team's "International Equity strategy has delivered a consistent, high-quality approach for nearly 40 years."

"The debut of Vontobel's first active ETF marks an exciting milestone and reflects our commitment to meeting investors' needs in an evolving investment landscape," Buell states.

"Our distinct approach to quality gives investors exposure to attributes such as pricing power and barriers to entry," Souccar staes. "These characteristics can potentially lead to compelling earnings that can compound over time and help provide downside management."

VNIE is an actively managed, diversified series of the Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II. The active ETF's other service providers include:

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) as custodian;

Ernst & Young LLP as independent accounting firm;

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as counsel;

SEI Investments Distribution Co. as distributor;

SEI Investments Global Fund Services as administrator; and

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. as dividend disbursing agent and transfer agent.