Are ETFs That Hold a Little Bit of Private Assets a Big Deal?

Core Insights - Private fund assets have tripled over the past decade, significantly outpacing the public market's growth rate of over 2X, indicating a strong interest in private equity and credit among investors [2] - The ETF market for private assets is limited due to structural protections, with the SEC imposing a 15% limit on illiquid holdings, which affects the allocation of ETFs in this category [3][4] - Retail investors are increasingly interested in private equity, but there are few ETFs available that hold private equity assets, leading to considerations regarding valuation and fees associated with these investments [5] ETF Market Dynamics - Interval funds and semi-liquid products have been developed to provide access to private markets, with some ETFs like the SPDR SSGA IG Public & Private Credit ETF (PRIV) and State Street Short Duration IG Public & Private Credit ETF (PRSD) offering around 20% exposure to private credit [4] - The ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF (XOVR) has gained attention for its 10% allocation to SpaceX, but concerns exist regarding the valuation of such holdings and the potential for high undisclosed fees [5] - Asset managers are focusing on investor education in the realms of private markets and ETFs, leading to increased hiring of product and portfolio specialists [5]