It’s no longer a one-horse race in private equity ETFs. PowerShares Global listed Private Equity Portfolio (NYSEArca: PSP) got a new competitor on Thursday after the ETF posted a total return of more than 30% last year.
However, investors should keep in mind that these private equity funds are risky and come with expense ratios exceeding 2% — very fees ratios for ETFs.
ProShares, an exchange traded fund provider more known for its inverse and leveraged products, is expanding its line of alternative investments with a new fund that focuses on the volatile, but potentially lucrative, private equity space.
On Thursday, the ProShares Global listed Private Equity ETF (BATS: PEX) starts trading. According to the prospectus, PEX will tries to reflect the performance of the LPX Listed Direct Private Equity Index, which consists of 30 private equity companies.
PEX comes with a 2.54% expense ratio.
The component holdings will have a majority of its assets invested in or exposed to private companies. The fund holds common stocks issued by U.S. and foreign companies, including business development companies (BDCs) for U.S. domiciled companies.
BDCs lend capital or provide services to privately-held companies or thinly-traded U.S. public companies. Since BDCs have exposure to smaller companies, the companies will be susceptible to potential risks involving bankruptcies or defaults.