Topic: How To Invest

Q: Pat, what do you think about the NBI Global Private Equity ETF? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: NBI Global Private Equity ETF, $38.86, symbol NGPE on Toronto (Units outstanding: 6.8 million; Market cap: $264.2 million; www.nbinvestments.ca), aims to let Canadians invest globally in publicly listed companies involved in private equity. Private equity is an alternative form of private financing, away from public markets, in which investors directly invest in companies—either public or private. They may also engage in the buyout of such companies. The ETF started up March 4, 2020, and its MER is 0.55%. Through the fund, investors hold about 61 stocks, and 52.1% of the ETF’s assets are allocated to European companies. U.S. firms represent the second major region, with 36.4% of the fund’s assets. Its top holdings include Blackstone Group (8.6%), Partners Group Holding AG (8.3%), KKR (7.6%), T. Rowe Price (7.1%), Apollo Global Management (5.0%), and 3i Group (5.9%). The early stages of the pandemic gave well-capitalized private equity firms a chance to pick up holdings at highly distressed prices. For instance, in January 2020, prominent…