US exchange-traded fund provider WisdomTree has announced its intention to enter the Canadian ETF market with the launch of its subsidiary WisdomTree Canada, pending approval from local regulators. The move marks the second foray into a foreign market for the firm this year after it established WisdomTree Japan in February.

Jonathan Steinberg, CEO and President of WisdomTree Investments.

“Canada represents an exciting opportunity for WisdomTree. As a pure-play ETF provider, WisdomTree sees great potential to help grow the ETF market and to deliver our innovative and highly differentiated products to Canadian investors,” said WisdomTree CEO and President Jonathan Steinberg. “We look forward to entering Canada, working with the financial community and offering new ETF choices to Canadians.”

Initial fund launches will include a range of equity-based products covering US, European and international exposures with a focus on income investing. The Canadian dollar-based WisdomTree indices these funds will track include: the WisdomTree International Quality Dividend Growth Index CAD, the WisdomTree Europe CAD-Hedged Equity Index, the WisdomTree US Quality Dividend Growth Index CAD and the WisdomTree US High Dividend Index CAD.

Raj Lala, previously Executive Vice President, Retail Markets, at Fiera Capital, has been appointed as Head of WisdomTree Canada. Lara Misner, previously Chief Compliance Officer of Purpose Investments, will join him as Chief Compliance Officer of WisdomTree Canada.

WisdomTree also has a European subsidiary, WisdomTree Europe, with offices set up in London. Globally the firm has approximately $45bn in assets under management.