Deutsche Bank’s Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management is lowering the expense ratios on the db X-trackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DBJP) and the db X-trackers MSCI Germany Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DBGR) to 0.45% per year from 0.5%.
The move brings the annual fees on DBJP and DBGR inline with the rest of the sponsor’s developed market ETFs, all of which charge 0.45% per year or less. The $319.3 million db X-trackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DBEF), the currency hedged play on the popular MSCI EAFE Index, charges 0.35% per year, according to issuer data.
“Since the first U.S. db X-trackers ETFs launched in 2011, the market has embraced our suite of ETFs. As we further develop our ETF lineup to meet investor demand, we continue refining our products. Today, we’re pleased to pass along further cost savings to our investors,” said Martin Kremenstein, Head of Passive Asset Management for Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management Americas, in a statement.
This is not the first fee reduction announced Deutsche this year. Last month, the firm lowered expenses on the db X-trackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares Fund (NYSEArca: ASHR) to 0.82% from 1.08% just two months after ASHR debuted. When ASHR debuted in November 2013, Deutsche said fee reductions were possible as the fund gained assets. ASHR, the first ETF to give U.S. investors direct exposure to China’s A-shares market, has $208.4 million in assets under management. [Deutsche Lowers Fees on A-Shares ETF]
DBJP, which rose to prominence last year as the yen sank and Japanese stocks soared, has nearly $425 million in assets under management. On a percentage basis, DBGR is one of this year’s most impressive ETF asset gatherers, having doubled in size as investors have continued allocating capital to developed Europe ETFs. [Where Emerging Markets ETF Money has Flowed To]