Focus on Actively Managed ETFs: Expectations for Growth

As the asset management industry evolves, innovative product options are being introduced to compliment traditional pooled vehicles. These rapidly emerging alternatives are influencing - and in some cases reshaping - the investment landscape. A forerunner in this race is Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) which are expanding individual investor access to asset classes and strategies once out of reach. ETFs allow investors to achieve asset allocation through portfolio diversification with lower costs, greater transparency and improved tax efficiency.

U.S. ETF assets have increased by 12 times over the past ten years, growing from $88 billion in 2001 to $1.2 trillion today. To put this in context, the current U.S. mutual fund market with over $13 trillion is still the dominant form of investing in the U.S. However, the ETF market is rapidly growing with 44 investment advisors across 1,475 funds. New entrants are cautious given the majority of assets are controlled by the top three advisors. Nevertheless, ETFs have gathered nearly $76 billion in new assets as of June 2012.

Industry research shows that looking forward; six trends will most likely support the continued growth of ETF assets:

* renewed focus on low investment cost

* a shift to fee-based advisory by financial advisors

* regulatory emphasis on transparency

* rising investor awareness of the product

* increased use by institutional investors

* the ability to secure seed capital

It is also noteworthy that pricing pressure is increasing, with some of the latest broad-based ETFs charging 5bp expense ratios. At the same time, smaller players are designing specialized, innovative products that may find demand.

Alpha investors looking for greater than market returns could help re-characterize actively managed ETFs as the next mutual fund. With only 50 actively managed ETFs listed in the U.S., representing over $7bn in AUM, there is plenty of pent-up demand. New actively managed ETFs have been slow to come to market because of the long SEC approval process. The regulatory requirement for daily disclosure of portfolio holdings has skewed growth toward fixed income products which are more difficult to replicate and account for 75% of the AUM. A further challenge for newly launched actively managed ETFs is the need to be on the market for three years in order to be eligible for Morningstar ratings. Nevertheless, the category is expected to grow with more than 34 new investment advisors having exemptive relief applications pending with the SEC. If active ETFs follow a similar acceptance as passive ETFs, it will likely motivate mutual fund managers to participate.

J.P. Morgan - A leading provider of ETF servicing:

J.P. Morgan engages clients in a consultative process and offers a comprehensive suite of global services to help them launch and service innovative fund structures. We provide:

* Sixteen years of experience servicing over 200 ETFs on four continents, covering $125bn in AUM and every asset class in the space

* Provides additional complimentary services around authorized participant trading and product structuring through J.P. Morgan's Investment Bank

* Demonstrates technical innovation - enabling us to service six industry "firsts" with recent expansion of our ETF alternative offering

Our integrated services include global custody, fund accounting, fund administration, transfer agency, securities lending, prime custody, derivatives collateral management, cross listing, sub-advisor solutions and basket settlement services to help clients mitigate risk, enhance returns and increase efficiency.

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