Betashares

Australian investment management company

Betashares
Company typePrivate, Employee owned
IndustryInvestment management
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
FoundersAlex Vynokur, David Nathanson
Headquarters
Sydney
,
Australia
Key people
Alex Vynokur
(CEO)
Jason Gellert
(CFO)
Ilan Israelstam
(CCO)
Products90 Exchange-traded funds including Indices, Equities, Fixed Income, Commodities, FX, Active
AUMA$37 billion (2024)
Number of employees
144 (2024)
Websitewww.betashares.com.au

Betashares is an Australian provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The company manages the broadest range of ETFs in Australia across major assets classes. Betashares is based in Sydney, Australia with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Betashares is owned and managed by its Australian based management team and has a strategic shareholding from TA Associates, a US Private Equity firm.[1] Up until March 8th, 2021, Betashares was partly owned by Mirae Asset Financial Group.

History

Currently, Betashares offers exchange-traded funds across several asset classes, including equities, cash, fixed income, hybrids, currencies and commodities.

The organisation is actively involved in researching and commenting on ETF investing for Australian investors[2] as well as forecasting the future growth of the industry in Australia.[3]

Some of Betashares' milestones include:

  • Announced the launch of Australia's first currency ETF covering the US Dollar (ASX: USD)[4] and several months later the British Pound (ASX: POU) and Euro (ASX: EEU).[5]
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first currency hedged ETF, the Betashares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU).[6]
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first range of commodity ETFs, including Australia's first crude oil ETF (ASX: OOO).
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first Cash ETF, the Betashares Australian High Interest Cash ETF (ASX: AAA), and subsequently launched the first ETF in Australia to offer exposure to a portfolio of Australian Bank senior floating rate bonds (ASX: QPON).[7] In May 2018, they also launched a Corporate Bond ETF (ASX: CRED)[8] and in July 2019, an Australian Government bond ETF (ASX: AGVT)[9]
  • Announced the launch of Betashares Europe ETF (Currency hedged) (ASX: HEUR) and Betashares Japan ETF (Currency Hedged) (ASX: HJPN).
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first ETF products using leverage and shorting over a range of asset classes, including Australian and global shares, as well as currencies offering exposure to both bullish and bearish investment strategies.[10]
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first ETF to track the NASDAQ-100 Index (ASX: NDQ)[11] and the first ETF in Australia providing dedicated exposure to the global cybersecurity sector (ASX: HACK).[12]
  • Announced the launch of two ethical ETFs using climate leadership and ESG screening criteria, the Betashares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI) Betashares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR).[13]
  • Announced the launch of the world's lowest cost Australian equities ETF (ASX: A200).[14]
  • Announced the launch of two new technology funds, the Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ) and the Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA).[15]
  • Announced the launch of two new global funds, the Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)[16] and the Global Income Leaders ETF (ASX: INCM).[17]
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first ETF to track the FTSE-100 Index (ASX: F100).[18]
  • Announced the launch of three low-cost ethical diversified portfolio ETFs (ASX: DZZF, ASX: DBBF and ASX: DGGF) and one low-cost all equity diversified portfolio ETF (ASX: DHHF).
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first ETF to track the new S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: ATEC).[19]
  • Announced the launch of Australia's first ETF in the cloud computing space which tracks the Indxx Global Cloud Computing Index (ASX: CLDD).[20]

Partnerships

Betashares has formed a number of partnerships:

  • In July 2013, Betashares launched the Betashares FTSE RAFI Australia 200 ETF (ASX: QOZ), based on a fundamentally based index developed by Research Affiliates, a product development and research firm. The Research Affiliates Fundamental Index (RAFI) approach uses 4 fundamental factors to develop index weightings including sales, cash flow, dividends and book value.
  • In November 2017, Betashares and Coolabah Capital Investments (CCI) released Australia's first Active ETF investing in a managed, diversified portfolio of hybrid securities. The portfolio manager for the Betashares Active Australian Hybrids Fund (managed fund) (ASX: HBRD) is Christopher Joye.[21]
  • In December 2017, Betashares and global asset manager Legg Mason, one of the world's largest active investment management firms, entered a strategic partnership to launch the Betashares Legg Mason Equity Income Fund (managed fund) (ASX: EINC) and Betashares Legg Mason Real Income Fund (managed fund) (ASX: RINC).[22] In November 2018, they launched Australia's first Active Fixed Income ETF, the Betashares Legg Mason Australian Bond Fund (ASX: BNDS).[23] In June 2019, they launched their fourth active fund, the Betashares Legg Mason Emerging Markets Fund (ASX: EMMG).[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ McInnes, William & Shapiro, Jonathan, TA Associates buys into Betashares through Mirae sale AFR, 8 March 2021
  2. ^ Betashares cautions investors on the impact of currency on gold performance. "Advisor Voice", 20 July 2011
  3. ^ Kennedy, Chris, Betashares tips jump in ETF use Archived 1 October 2011 at the Wayback MachineMoney Management, 23 June 2011
  4. ^ Betashares launches Australia's first currency ETF Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. "ETF Mate"
  5. ^ Woodington, Matt, Betashares adds major currencies to its range Financial Standard, 11 July 2011
  6. ^ Teckchandani, Vishal, Betashares launches hedged gold ETF Morningstar, 5 May 2011
  7. ^ Patron, Oksana, Betashares launches bank floating rate bond ETF Money Management, 7 June 2017
  8. ^ Sood, Kanika, Betashares launches fixed-rate corporate bond ETF Financial Standard, 5 June 2018
  9. ^ Sood, Kanika, Betashares brings in government bond ETF, with longer duration ETF Stream, 10 July 2019
  10. ^ Commins, Patrick, Betashares' Strong Bear Fund offers way to beat big bad bear markets Sydney Morning Herald, 26 April 2015
  11. ^ Cowling, Kate, Betashares ETF offers exposure to Apple, Google, Facebook Australian Financial Review, 26 May 2015
  12. ^ O'Neill, Sam, Can you benefit from the booming cybersecurity industry with the HACK ETF? Motley Fool, 30 November 2017
  13. ^ Robin, Myriam, Betashares' Was Betashares allowed to dump Facebook from its passive, ethical ETF? Australian Financial Review, 27 March 2018
  14. ^ Vickovich, Alex, Betashares launches world's lowest cost Aussie ETF Investor Daily, 5 April 2018
  15. ^ Patron, Oksana, Betashares expands product suite Money Management, 21 August 2018
  16. ^ Lord, James, Betashares launches Global Quality Leaders ETF on ASX ETF Strategy, 8 November 2018
  17. ^ Hastie, Eliot, New ETF Launch for Betashares Investor Daily, 24 October 2018
  18. ^ Tuckwell, David, Betashares lists Australia’s first FTSE 100 ETF ETF Stream, 8 July 2019
  19. ^ Sood, Kanika, New ETF for ASX All Tech Index "Financial Standard", 25 February 2020
  20. ^ Dickson, Annabelle, Betashares to launch new fund "Financial Standard", 11 February 2021
  21. ^ Frost, James, Betashares to launch hybrid security investment vehicle Australian Financial Review, 25 September 2018
  22. ^ Chandler, Beverly, Legg Mason and Betashares announce launch of Active ETFs ETF Express, 13 February 2018
  23. ^ Sood, Kanika, Australia's first active fixed income ETF goes live Financial Standard, 20 November 2018
  24. ^ Thompson, Sarah, Legg Mason prepares new ASX-listed emerging markets fund Australian Financial Review, 11 June 2019