HANetf : World’s first European defence ETF from a European ETF firm launches on LSE

HANetf, Europe’s first and only independent white-label UCITS ETF and ETC platform³ , and leading provider of digital asset ETPs, is delighted to announce the launch of Future of European Defence UCITS ETF (ticker: ARMY). This marks the first time a European firm has launched a European defence ETF⁴.

Future of European Defence UCITS ETF (ticker: ARMY)

ISIN: IE000I7E6HL0
TER: 0.39%

The ETF aims to provide exposure to NATO and NATO+ ally domiciled defence and cyber defence companies, excluding the US, with the aim of capturing Europe’s rearmament story. As a European firm, HANetf feels it is a duty to support investment into European defence as the continent looks to bolster its security.

With threats mounting and US support no longer guaranteed, European NATO members are overhauling their defence strategies and sharply increasing military spending. After a decade of failing to meet the 2% of GDP target, Europe has collectively underspent by an estimated €850bn. Now, to rebuild and modernise their armed forces, governments are directing this renewed investment towards European defence firms – boosting the continent’s strategic self-reliance.

And Europe’s rearmament is not just about spending more – it is about building European independence and autonomy in defence. To reduce reliance on US equipment, the EU is prioritising European-made weapons, vehicles, and systems, providing a strong tailwind to the European defence sector.

HANetf has demonstrated success in global defence investing. The European defence ETF follows in the footsteps of the award-winning⁵ Future of Defence UCITS ETF (ticker: NATO), which has gained significant traction among investors, recently surpassing $1.9 billion in assets under management (AUM) with $1.06 billion net new assets this year alone.

However, the European defence ETF offers a more focused approach by ensuring a higher exposure to European-listed defence companies, excluding US firms, while also screening out companies with high revenue exposure to controversial weapons.

Key Features:

• UCITS-compliant ETF – Providing exposure to European-listed defence companies within a transparent, regulated structure.
• Higher European exposure – A key differentiator from broader defence ETFs, with a focus on companies benefiting from Europe’s security realignment.
• NATO-aligned methodology – Following the proven strategy of HANetf’s award-winning NATO ETF while applying enhanced European screens.
• Exclusion of controversial weapons – Ensuring companies with high exposure to controversial weapons are excluded.
• European defence backed by a European firm – The first European defence ETF launched by a European company.

The European defence ETF, like the NATO ETF, employs the “NATO screen”, limiting exposure to companies domiciled in NATO or NATO+ ally member states.

In this way, the ETF seeks to align with the values of investors who may have concerns about defence investing, but cannot ignore the current political climate, and therefore seek a smarter and more considered approach. NATO is a defensive alliance and itself states that “deterrence and defence is one of its core tasks” – focusing on companies operating in NATO allied countries limits the possibility of constituents of the ETF being companies operating in countries that could one day be adversaries to the alliance.

Hector McNeil, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of HANetf, comments:

“The European rearmament story is nothing short of astonishing. While it has been evident for a while that the continent is collectively underspending on defence, the recent stance taken by the US administration has served as a reality check that, ultimately, the defence of Europe falls to Europe itself. European leaders are uniting around a shared goal – preparing themselves and each other to defend against aggressors.

“As a proudly European firm, we believe it is our duty to support investment into European defence. We therefore thought it important to be the first European ETF firm to launch a Europe-focused defence ETF, “ARMY”. Clearly, geopolitics is finally balanced today and Europe needs to build defence independence from the US. We feel being a European provider means we cannot be influenced in the same way as a US headquartered provider may be. Providing an efficient way for European investors to invest efficiently in the European defence sector is our aim. The ETF builds upon the award-winning Future of Defence UCITS ETF, but focuses in on Europe, with the US excluded. In this way, the ETF is designed to capture Europe’s rearmament and the defence spending that will be required to achieve it.

“Given recent events, we are seeing a shift in investor attitudes towards defence investing, as many begin to view defence as an important and necessary means of maintaining life as we know it. At the same time, the ETF employs the “NATO screen” we use for our NATO ETF. By limiting exposure to companies domiciled in NATO and NATO+ ally member states, the ETF can align with the values of investors who may still have concerns about defence investing, but cannot ignore the current political climate, and therefore seek a smarter and more considered approach. NATO is, by its nature, a defensive alliance, with “deterrence and defence is one of its core tasks”. Focusing on companies operating in NATO allied countries limits the possibility of constituents of the ETF being companies operating in countries that could one day be adversaries to the alliance.”