The Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate SCTR ETF (SRVR) targets the physical backbone of the digital economy, moving away from legacy real estate sectors like retail and office space.
Instead, the fund provides concentrated exposure to data centers and cellular towers essential for 5G expansion and cloud computing. By focusing on industry leaders such as Equinix and American Tower, SRVR offers investors a strategic blend of the income generation typical of REITs and the structural growth associated with the technology sector.
However, for long-term Indian investors, SRVR carries a critical structural risk: The US Estate Tax. If you hold US-domiciled assets (like SRVR) and your portfolio value exceeds $60,000, the US government levies a 40% Estate Tax on the excess amount upon your death. This creates an unnecessary risk that can wipe out nearly half of the wealth intended for your heirs.
This blog gives you all the information you need about the top UCITS alternatives. While this is a specialized sector, alternatives like the Global X Data Center REITs & Digital Infrastructure UCITS ETF offer the exact same focus on the physical infrastructure of the internet. These funds allow you to capture the growth of server farms and telecom towers without the estate tax risk.
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Why Indians are looking for UCITS alternatives to SRVR
Indian investors are shifting to UCITS alternatives because they solve the tax risks and inefficiencies of US ETFs like SRVR while providing the exact same exposure.
- Estate Tax Protection: UCITS funds are typically domiciled in Ireland. They are not considered "US-situs" assets, meaning they are 100% exempt from the 40% US Estate Tax.
- Tax Deferral (Accumulation): Unlike SRVR, which forces taxable cash dividends on you, many UCITS funds offer "Accumulating" classes that reinvest dividends automatically. This reduces your tax liability in India and defers it until you sell the fund.
To learn more about UCITS ETFs and why Indian investors are choosing them, read our guide on UCITS ETFs.
Popular UCITS Alternatives for SRVR
Here are the top UCITS funds that serve as the best proxies for the Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate SCTR ETF (SRVR).
1. Global X Data Center REITs & Digital Infrastructure UCITS ETF
This is the most direct equivalent to SRVR available in Europe, capturing the exact same niche of data centers and cell towers.
This fund is the closest European counterpart to SRVR's strategy. It specifically targets the physical backbone of the internet, investing heavily in the REITs and infrastructure companies that operate server farms, data centers, and cellular towers. As cloud computing, 5G, and Artificial Intelligence drive massive demand for physical tech infrastructure, VPN captures this specialized sub-sector directly without watering it down with traditional commercial or residential real estate.
- Ticker: VPN (USD) / VPND (Distributing) (LSE)
- Total Expense Ratio (TER): 0.50%
- Top Holdings: Equinix Inc., American Tower Corp, Crown Castle Inc., Digital Realty Trust, SBA Communications.
2. WisdomTree New Economy Real Estate UCITS ETF
This fund includes SRVR's focus on digital infrastructure, but slightly broadens the scope to include logistics and e-commerce real estate.
Rather than strictly limiting itself to data centers and telecom infrastructure like SRVR, this fund takes a slightly broader "new economy" approach to real estate. It heavily holds the same tech-driven real estate (cell towers and server warehouses) but pairs them with logistics warehouses (like Prologis) that power global e-commerce, as well as high-tech life sciences buildings. This is an excellent alternative if you want exposure to SRVR's holdings but prefer a slightly more diversified approach to modern, tech-adjacent real estate.
- Ticker: WTRE
- Total Expense Ratio (TER): 0.45% (Cheaper than SRVR's 0.60%)
- Top Holdings: Prologis Inc., Equinix Inc., American Tower Corp, Digital Realty Trust, Crown Castle Inc.
Invest in UCITS ETFs with Paasa
Paasa is a global investing platform designed for Indian investors. We provide direct access to over 10 global exchanges, including the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, and Singapore.
This means you are not restricted to just US ETFs like SRVR; you can also buy tax-efficient UCITS equivalents using Paasa.
The Compliance Advantage
Paasa makes global investing easy and also removes the compliance friction with a specialized layer built specifically for Indian residents:
- Schedule FA Reporting: Exact reports you need for your Indian tax returns, eliminating the need for manual calculations.
- Tax Filing & Advice: Access to expert tax advice and seamless filing support.
- FEMA & LRS Integration: Guidance on FEMA regulations and LRS limits to ensure compliance.
Whether you are buying direct US stocks or investing in UCITS ETFs listed on European exchanges, Paasa provides global access with India-specific compliance and tax support.
