Smart Global Bond ETF
Managed by Smartshares Smart Global Bond ETF is a international fi ETF operated by Smartshares; PIE-structured; FMA risk indicator 3/7. Headline terms: annual fund charge 0.54% · minimum investment NZ$500 · distributions quarterly. Compared with 30 other same-category funds on this site, the 0.54% annual fund charge sits below the same-category median of 0.71%.
PIE tax treatment — capped at your PIR (max 28%)
This fund is a Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE) under Subpart HM of the Income Tax Act 2007. Income is taxed at your Prescribed Investor Rate (10.5% / 17.5% / 28%), not your marginal income-tax rate. The fund manager calculates and pays the tax on your behalf — when your PIR is correct, you usually don't need to declare PIE income in your annual tax return. See our PIR guide and PIE tax basics for the full picture, or use the PIR calculator to confirm your rate.
Annual fund charge
0.54%
vs peer avg 0.65%
Risk indicator
4/7
1 = lower risk · 7 = higher risk
5-year return p.a.
0.08%
peer avg 1.17%
Fund size
NZ$141.0m
0% growth · 100% income
Invests in New Zealand bonds, with the objective of outperforming the S&P/NZX A-Grade Corporate Bond Total Return Index over rolling 3-year periods.
Benchmark track record
Compare International FI consistency →How Smart Global Bond ETF performed against its own market-index benchmark each year, after fees and tax — from the FMA fund-update dataset. Historical track record, not current-year performance; past performance is not a guide to the future.
Beat its benchmark in 3 of 6 years
annual returns to 30/06/2022Since inception: 1.74% p.a. after fees & tax vs benchmark 2.04%.
How Smart Global Bond ETF differs
Factual contrasts drawn from the PDS, SIPO and latest portfolio holdings — no opinion.
- Investment style
- Index-tracking posture against the S&P/NZX A-Grade Corporate Bond Total Return Index.
- Top 3 holdings
- Freddie Mac Pool 6.50% 1/01/2054 (4.4%) · French Republic Government Bond Oat 2.75% 25/02/2030 (3.4%) · China Development Bank 2.63% 8/01/2034 (2.4%)
Key facts
Fund start date
12 November 2015
Min. investment
NZ$500
Subsequent: NZ$250
Distributions
Quarterly
Tax structure
PIE
Capped at your PIR (max 28%)
Investment policy
From the Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO).
Strategic asset allocation ranges
| Asset class | Target | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| International fixed interest | 100% | 0% | 100% |
Responsible-investment approach
Smart has a Responsible Investment Policy setting out its approach to responsible investing, available at smartinvest.co.nz/resources/documents. Several funds track indices that screen for exposure to Controversial Weapons, Nuclear Weapons, Civilian Firearms, Tobacco, Thermal Coal and Oil Sands, and exclude companies failing to comply with the United Nations Global Compact Principles.
Exclusions
- Financial products issued by entities where any part of revenue and/or activities involve tobacco
- Financial products issued by entities where any part of revenue and/or activities involve illegal weapons (cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines and nuclear explosive devices)
- Financial products issued by entities where a material part of revenue (greater than 10%) and/or activities involve fossil fuel production
Derivatives policy
Each ETF may use derivatives to gain exposure to assets consistent with its permitted investments. No ETF may use derivatives to lever the ETF.
Reading between the lines
Plain-English summary of the scheme's disclosed conflicts and performance-fee mechanics, drawn from the OMI and PDS. Factual restatement — no opinion.
- Smartshares acknowledges it may invest in its own funds rather than third-party products, creating a potential conflict of interest in favour of its own managed funds.
- Smartshares discloses that where it invests in its own Smart Wholesale Scheme funds, it does not charge an additional management fee for that underlying exposure.
- Smartshares receives administration services from NZX Limited, its parent company, under a formal Administration Services Agreement, making NZX a related-party service provider to the fund.
- Smartshares notes that third-party underlying fund managers it appoints may also prefer their own funds; these arrangements are reviewed at least annually and approved on arm's-length terms.
Generated 2026-05-28 from Smart Exchange Traded Funds OMI (dated 2026-04-19). The verbatim disclosures appear in full below — this summary is a navigation aid, not a substitute.
Scheme disclosures
From the Other Material Information (OMI) document. Scheme-level — applies to every fund in this scheme.
Trustee / Supervisor
Public Trust
Conflicts disclosed
2
In OMI
Conflicts of interest disclosed in OMI
- Smart may invest in other funds managed by it, rather than in financial products issued by third parties, potentially influencing investment decisions in favour of its own funds; this is managed via the Investment Oversight Committee and by not charging a fee for management services in relation to the Smart Wholesale Scheme where applicable.
- An underlying third party fund manager may invest in other funds that it manages, potentially preferring its own managed funds over those operated by independent third parties; Smart assesses these arrangements at least annually and reviews fund investments monthly, with appointments approved on arm's length terms under Smart's Related Party Transactions Policy.
How this fund compares to peers
Mechanical comparison vs the 31 other international fi funds in our cohort. Source: FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Annual fund charge
0.54%
Category median: 0.70%
Cheaper than 60% of peers
5y return p.a. (after fees)
+0.08%
Category median: +0.48%
Lower than most peers (bottom 10% over period)
Fund size
NZ$141.0m
Category median: NZ$141.0m
50th percentile by AUM
Illustrative 5y fee impact on a sample balance of $10,000
$267
Compounded charge over 5 years (excl. returns)
$78 less than peer median
Read the full fee-vs-peers breakdown →
Mechanical scores only — no opinion or recommendation. Different funds suit different investor goals. ManagedFundsNZ is not a Financial Advice Provider. Read the current PDS and consider speaking to a licensed financial adviser.
Top 10 holdings
As at the latest published quarterly fund update (via Sorted Smart Investor).
| Holding | % of fund |
|---|---|
| FM Freddie Mac Pool 6.50% 1/01/2054 | 4.37% |
| FR French Republic Government Bond Oat 2.75% 25/02/2030 | 3.41% |
| CD China Development Bank 2.63% 8/01/2034 | 2.42% |
| GM Ginnie Mae Ii Pool 3.50% 20/01/2056 | 2.29% |
| UK United Kingdom Gilt 4.375% 7/03/2030 | 2.13% |
| GM Ginnie Mae Ii Pool 3.00% 20/03/2052 | 1.95% |
| GM Ginnie Mae Ii Pool 3.50% 20/10/2054 | 1.67% |
| US United States Treasury Note/Bond 1.875% 15/02/2041 | 1.64% |
| CD China Development Bank 2.82% 22/05/2033 | 1.62% |
| US United States Treasury Note/Bond 4.125% 15/08/2044 | 1.59% |
Documents
Every dated PDS, quarterly fund update and full-portfolio holdings file. Linked from the FMA Disclose register via Sorted Smart Investor.
- SMART GLOBAL BOND ETF (FND1101) Full portfolio holdings 31 March 2026.xlsx Download the full portfolio holdings. XLSX, 59.29 KB
- PDS Core Series 23 Sep Final.pdf How this investment works, including about the provider, risks, costs and potential returns PDF, 947.54 KB
- smart exchange traded funds fund update smart global bond etf.pdf The quarterly update published by the provider PDF, 173.74 KB
- Product Disclosure Statement Smartshares Exchange Traded Funds Resettlement Offer.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 499.14 KB
- Smartshares Exchange Traded Funds New Core Series ET Fs Product Disclosure Statement.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 445.42 KB
- Product Disclosure Statement Smart Exchange Traded Funds Australasia Series 22 September 2025.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 1.14 MB
- Smart Responsible Investment Policy 6 May 2026.pdf Smart Responsible Investment Policy PDF, 1.41 MB
- Product Disclosure Statement Smart Exchange Traded Funds Global Series 12 May 2026.pdf Additional product disclosure statement from the provider PDF, 2.32 MB
- Other Material Information Smart Exchange Traded Funds 12 May 2026.pdf Smart Exchange Traded Funds - Other Material Information PDF, 690.38 KB
- SIPO Smart Exchange Traded Funds 12 May 2026.pdf Statement of investment policy and objectives PDF, 1.54 MB
About this category
Funds investing in fixed-income securities issued outside New Zealand, typically with currency hedging back to NZD.
About Smartshares
NZ’s largest ETF issuer, owned by NZX. Tickers trade on NZX Main Board.
Parent: NZX Limited
See all funds from Smartshares →Common questions
Questions people ask about Smart Global Bond ETF
Drawn from Google's "People also ask" panel and answered with reference to the fund's filed PDS, Fund Update and FMA Disclose data. Not personal financial advice — for guidance specific to your situation, consult an authorised financial adviser.
Are global bond ETFs a good investment?
Global bond ETFs provide exposure to international fixed-income assets and can play a role in a diversified portfolio; however, suitability depends on your individual financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Smart Global Bond ETF carries a risk indicator of 3/7 on the FMA standardised scale, reflecting moderate interest-rate and currency risk. Consult the fund's Product Disclosure Statement or a financial adviser to assess whether this fund aligns with your circumstances.
Why not invest in bond ETFs?
Bond ETFs carry specific risks including interest-rate risk (bond values fall when rates rise), credit risk (issuer default), and currency risk (for unhedged international bonds). Smart Global Bond ETF's 5-year return after fees was 0.23% p.a., reflecting the low-yield environment in recent years. Whether a bond ETF suits your needs depends on your investment objectives, time horizon, and how it fits within your overall portfolio strategy—consult a financial adviser or the fund's Product Disclosure Statement for guidance.
What is the average return on a bond ETF?
Bond ETF returns vary significantly by composition, interest-rate environment, and credit quality. Smart Global Bond ETF achieved a 5-year return after fees of 0.23% p.a. as at the latest QFU, though past returns are not a reliable indicator of future performance. For current performance data and peer comparisons, check the FMA Disclose register at https://disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/.
Head-to-head
Compare Smart Global Bond ETF with…
Side-by-side numbers — fees, returns, risk, fund size, asset mix.
Peer funds
Other International FI funds
Same manager
Other funds by Smartshares
- Smart US 500 ETFInternational Equities
- Smart NZ Top 50 ETFAustralasian Equities
- Smart US Large Growth ETFInternational Equities
FMA risk band
Same risk band (3/7)
See every NZ retail managed fund with the same standardised FMA risk indicator. Useful for peer-checking volatility-comparable funds outside this category.
View risk band 3 funds →AI & integrations
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Frequently asked questions
Mechanical Q&A grounded in the fund's PDS, SIPO, and latest QFU on the FMA Disclose register. Verify against the source before relying on any of this.
Who manages the Smart Global Bond ETF?
Smart Global Bond ETF is managed by Smartshares (parent: NZX Limited). NZ’s largest ETF issuer, owned by NZX. Tickers trade on NZX Main Board.
What asset class is the Smart Global Bond ETF?
It is a international fi exchange-traded fund (ETF). Funds investing in fixed-income securities issued outside New Zealand, typically with currency hedging back to NZD.
What are the fees for the Smart Global Bond ETF?
The annual fund charge for the Smart Global Bond ETF is 0.54% p.a., as reported in the latest Quarterly Fund Update sourced from the FMA Disclose register. Always check the current PDS for any additional fees.
What is the risk indicator for the Smart Global Bond ETF?
The risk indicator is 4/7 on the standardised FMA-mandated scale, where 1 is lower risk and 7 is higher risk. The risk indicator is calculated from the fund's price volatility over the past five years and is published in every Quarterly Fund Update.
Is the Smart Global Bond ETF a PIE fund?
Yes. The Smart Global Bond ETF is structured as a New Zealand Portfolio Investment Entity (PIE). Investor tax on the fund's income is capped at the investor's Prescribed Investor Rate (PIR), which has a maximum of 28%. Most NZ-resident retail investors with a taxable income at or below NZ$48,000 qualify for a lower PIR.
How big is the Smart Global Bond ETF?
Fund size (assets under management) is NZ$141 million as at the latest Quarterly Fund Update. Asset mix is approximately 0% growth assets and 100% income assets.
What does the Smart Global Bond ETF invest in?
The latest published top holdings are: Freddie Mac Pool 6.50% 1/01/2054 (4.37%), French Republic Government Bond Oat 2.75% 25/02/2030 (3.41%), China Development Bank 2.63% 8/01/2034 (2.42%). Holdings are disclosed in each Quarterly Fund Update; the full portfolio holdings file is also available via the FMA Disclose register.
How can I invest in the Smart Global Bond ETF?
The Smart Global Bond ETF is available via Smartshares directly. Always read the current Product Disclosure Statement before investing.
Are global bond ETFs a good investment?
Global bond ETFs provide exposure to international fixed-income assets and can play a role in a diversified portfolio; however, suitability depends on your individual financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Smart Global Bond ETF carries a risk indicator of 3/7 on the FMA standardised scale, reflecting moderate interest-rate and currency risk. Consult the fund's Product Disclosure Statement or a financial adviser to assess whether this fund aligns with your circumstances.
Why not invest in bond ETFs?
Bond ETFs carry specific risks including interest-rate risk (bond values fall when rates rise), credit risk (issuer default), and currency risk (for unhedged international bonds). Smart Global Bond ETF's 5-year return after fees was 0.23% p.a., reflecting the low-yield environment in recent years. Whether a bond ETF suits your needs depends on your investment objectives, time horizon, and how it fits within your overall portfolio strategy—consult a financial adviser or the fund's Product Disclosure Statement for guidance.
What is the average return on a bond ETF?
Bond ETF returns vary significantly by composition, interest-rate environment, and credit quality. Smart Global Bond ETF achieved a 5-year return after fees of 0.23% p.a. as at the latest QFU, though past returns are not a reliable indicator of future performance. For current performance data and peer comparisons, check the FMA Disclose register at https://disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz/.