The folks at a U.S. asset management arm of a German multinational are expanding their ETF lineup yet again on this side of the pond.

Johan Grahn Allianz Investment Management Head ETF Market Strategist

On March 6, Johan Grahn, head ETF market strategist at Allianz Investment Management LLC (AllianzIM, part of Allianz's Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America), and Chris Chambs, CEO of AllianzIM, unveiled the launch of the AllianzIM Buffer15 Uncapped Allocation ETF (SPBU on the Cboe BZX). Minneapolis-based AllianzIM serves as investment advisor to the new fund.

SPBU's inception date was March 5, and it comes with an expense ratio of 79 basis points (which bakes in a 5bps fee waiver promised through February 28, 2026). As of yesterday (March 17), the new ETF had about $15 million in AUM.

The PM team for SPBU includes AllianzIM vice president Josiah Highmark and SVP Thomas Paustian. The new fund is built out of a laddered portfolio of AllianzIM's 12 monthly U.S. Equity Buffer15 Uncapped ETFs (which are each designed to provide exposure to market gains and protection against the first 15 percent of losses over 12-month periods).

Grahn puts the launch of SPBU in the context of heightened market volatility in 2025.

"The Buffer Allocation ETF suite is designed to offer investors the potential for capital appreciation while managing risk with simple, single-ticker solutions," Grahn states.

Chambs highlights AllianzIM's "commitment to delivering risk-managed solutions that help investors navigate today's evolving market environment."

"This latest addition to our suite offers investors a new way to participate in market upside while maintaining a structured approach to downside risk management," Chambs states.

SPBU is an actively managed, non-diversified series of the AIM ETF Products Trust. The new ETF's other service providers include: Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) as administrator, custodian, and transfer agent; Cohen & Company, Ltd. as independent accounting firm; ACA's Foreside Fund Services, LLC as distributor; and Stradley Ronon Stevens and Young, LLP as counsel. 

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