First Trust Takes IPO ETF Across the Pond

First Trust, the sixth-largest U.S. issuer of exchange traded funds, is broadening the frontiers for its popular First Trust US IPO Index Fund (NYSEArca: FPX).

The First Trust US IPO Index UCITS ETF began trading on the Euronext Paris on 17 August 2015 (Ticker: FPXU FP) and on the London Stock Exchange on 18 August 2015 (Ticker: FPX LN), according to a statement issued by Illinois-based First Trust.

FPX does not limit its holdings to true IPOs. The ETF can hold spin-offs and the ETF’s holdings can remain in the fund for 1,000 days after their IPOs.

“The Fund only tracks recent IPOs and spin-offs. Therefore, there is very little overlap with traditional index funds, which generally have a waiting period before adding IPOs/spin-offs. As a result, a portfolio of recent IPOs may complement a core equity holding by providing more complete exposure to the total equity market,” according to the statement.

The $775.1 million FPX debuted in 2006. In 2013, First Trust launched three exchanged traded funds that trade on the London Stock Exchange. Last year, the company said it was eyeing continued expansion in Europe’s ETF market. [First Trust Eyes Europe Expansion]