UBS ETFPlease confirm that you are resident in Switzerland to proceed.
ETF securities lendingGenerate additional returns and reduce investors' net costs
UBS ETFs engage in securities lending for select physically replicated ETFs with the aim to generate additional returns and thus reduce investors' net costs. UBS attaches particular importance to a responsible securities lending concept.
What is ETF securities lending?
In ETF securities lending, the lender (UBS ETFs) transfers a given number of securities from its ETF portfolio to a third party (borrower) for an agreed period in return for a fee.
- UBS ETFs engage in securities lending only for select physically replicated ETFs domiciled in Switzerland, Ireland, and Luxembourg
- The objective is to reduce investors' net costs through additional income.
- Securities lending transactions of UBS ETFs are overcollateralized to a minimum of 105%.
- A haircut is additionally applied to Swiss-domiciled ETFs
- Careful selection of borrowers and daily mark-to-market valuation of collateral serve to minimize risk
- High degree of transparency through daily publication of collateral assets for each subfund at ubs.com/etf > products
How can you minimize securities lending risk for ETFs?
According to the European fund UCITS directive and the Swiss CISA, securities lending may be up to 100%. Actual lending rates for UBS ETFs have been considerably lower. UBS ETFs have set a cap of 50% of the net asset value of an ETF on securities lending, while some are capped at 25% in order to meet market requirements.
To minimize securities lending risk for UBS ETFs, borrowers are carefully selected and monitored on a daily basis. Before borrowers receive the securities, they must provide the lender - the ETF - with collateral. The collateral assets serve to secure the borrower's obligations to the lender. The collateral is transferred to a completely separate custody account or collateral account that is ring-fenced from the lender's balance sheet.
Securities lending may be terminated on demand by the lender on a daily basis. A daily mark-to-market valuation of loans and collateral ensures that the value of the collateral posted by the borrower is always adjusted to the correct level. In addition, securities lending transactions of UBS ETFs are always overcollateralized to a minimum of 105%. For Swiss-domiciled ETFs, a valuation haircut is additionally applied to the underlying collateral. Securities lending ceases when it is terminated by the ETF or the borrower's demand is satisfied. The collateral held is returned to the borrower only after the securities have been returned to the ETF.
Securities
UBS ETFs offer a high degree of transparency through daily publication of collateral assets for each subfund.
How can ETF securities lending help to generate additional returns?
The borrower pays the ETF a fee for the duration of the securities lending period. In addition, all entitlements such as coupons or dividends paid on the securities while on loan are passed on to the ETF in the form of a manufactured payment.
As such, securities lending enables the fund to generate additional revenues, which are reflected in the net asset value (NAV) and directly reduce net costs to investors as a result.
Securities lending for ETFs domiciled in Switzerland, Luxembourg and Ireland
Currently accepted collateral for ETFs domiciled in Switzerland
For Swiss-domiciled UBS ETFs that engage in securities lending, the following types of securities are currently accepted as collateral (excluding securities of the borrowing counterparty):
- Government bonds issued by G10 countries. Government bonds not issued in the US, Japan, UK, Germany or Switzerland must have at least an "A" rating or equivalent
- Corporate bonds with minimum rating of "A" or equivalent
- Equities issued by companies represented on the following indices: AEX, ATX, BEL20, CAC, DAX, INDU, UKX, HEX25, KFX, OMX, OBX, SMI, SPI, SPX, SX5E
Source: UBS Switzerland AG, September 20, 2021
Haircuts and margin*
A 5% margin is added to the market value of the lent securities to determine the collateral requirement. The collateral value of a security is equal to its market value less a haircut as per the below table:
International equities: | 8% |
Government bonds issued by US, JP, UK, DE, CH: | 0% |
Government bonds with a minimum rating of "A" (excluding US, UK, DE, CH): | 2% |
Corporate bonds with at least an "A" rating: | 4% |
Haircut
A haircut is a valuation discount applied to the underlying securities. It serves as an additional safety buffer and varies depending on the type of securities pledged as collateral and their expected price fluctuations. As haircuts are deducted from the underlying collateral, additional collateral must be provided corresponding to the respective haircut.
Currently accepted collateral for ETFs domiciled in Luxembourg and Ireland
For UBS ETFs, domiciled in Luxembourg and Ireland, that engage in securities lending, the following types of collateral are currently accepted:
- Securities issued and / or fully guaranteed by the government of the following jurisdictions, excluding however any securities issued by the counterparty to the relevant lending transaction:
- The G10 countries: Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and USA
- The following OECD countries only: Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal and Spain
- The G10 countries: Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and USA
- Equity securities in the form of world equities indices
Type and level of collateralization required for Luxembourg and Ireland domiciled ETFs*
Type of collateral | ||
|---|---|---|
Type of borrowed securities | Government bonds | International equities |
International equities | 105% | 105% |
US equities | 105% | 105% |
