IEMG UCITS Equivalent: VFEM
IEMG (iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, iShares) is a US-listed ETF you can't buy from Europe. Its closest UCITS equivalent is VFEM — Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF — a 92% match by index, holdings and cost.
IEMG vs VFEM: side-by-side
| IEMG (US) | VFEM (UCITS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fund | iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF |
| Strategy | MSCI Emerging Markets IMI | Emerging-markets equity |
| Domicile | United States | Ireland |
| Ongoing charge (TER) | — | 0.22% |
| Income | Distributing (quarterly) | Distributing (quarterly) |
| Trailing yield | 2.3% | 2.29% |
| Trading currency | USD | GBP |
| Fund size | — | 3.8B |
| Buyable by EU/UK retail investors | Usually blocked (no PRIIPs KID) | Yes |
| US estate-tax exposure (non-US investors) | Yes, above $60k | No |
| US dividend withholding | Withheld on each payout (15% with a W-8BEN, else 30%) | 15% inside the fund (Ireland–US treaty), nothing extra to you |
UCITS data from UCITSIncome, updated November 2026. IEMG figures are indicative.
About IEMG
Other UCITS alternatives to IEMG
Why you can't buy IEMG in Europe
US-domiciled ETFs like IEMGdon't publish the EU “KID” disclosure document required by the PRIIPs regulation, so European and other non-US brokers block the order. It isn't illegal — you simply buy the UCITS equivalent (VFEM) instead. UCITS funds are also more tax-efficient for non-US investors: lower US dividend withholding and no US estate-tax exposure. Read the full explanation →
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Matches are based on the underlying index, holdings overlap and cost, sourced from UCITSIncome data. Information only — not financial advice. Always do your own research before investing.