Columbia Seeks Consent to Offer NextShares & Index ETFs

Zacks

Columbia Management Investment Advisers LLC, which is a registered investment advisory firm located in Boston and a subsidiary of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. AMP, became the latest firm to capitalize on the ongoing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) boom.

The traditional mutual fund manager yesterday filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to obtain approval to launch both NextShares and index-tracking exchange-traded funds.

Ameriprise’s global asset management group, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, is showing interest in offering exchange-traded managed funds (ETMFs) – a hybrid between traditional mutual funds and ETFs, which was given the brand name – NextShares – by Eaton Vance Corp. EV.

Eaton Vance was granted permission to offer this new breed of fund last year by the SEC. The company is expected to launch its planned ETMFs later this year.

On the other hand, Columbia Threadneedle Investments runs a set of five actively managed ETFs. If the firm is successful in receiving permission for the new funds, it will add index-tracking funds as well as NextShares to the list.

ETMFs will be actively managed and traded like ETFs on an exchange. However, such funds do not need to divulge fund holdings as frequently as ETFs. This feature is bound to draw the attention of active fund managers, who usually shun active ETFs due to their disclosure requirements. The regular disclosures make funds vulnerable to front-running risk.

“We filed for exemptive relief as we consider multiple and complementary product options," Columbia Threadneedle said in an emailed statement to the Wall Street Journal.

Stephen Clarke, president of Navigate Fund Solutions, a subsidiary of Eaton Vance and the sponsor of NextShares, said, "We are delighted to welcome Columbia Threadneedle as a NextShares licensee.”

Currently, Ameriprise holds a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). A couple of better-ranked investment management firms include Monroe Capital Corporation MRCC and Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. SAMG. Both these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply