Betashares
Betashares is a leading 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.
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Type | Private, Employee owned |
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Industry | Investment management |
Founded | 2009 |
Founders | Alex Vynokur, David Nathanson |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Alex Vynokur (CEO) Jason Gellert (CFO) Ilan Israelstam (CCO) |
Products | 79 Exchange-traded funds including Indices, Equities, Fixed Income, Commodities, FX, Active |
AUM | A$29.5 billion (2023) |
Number of employees | 135 (2022) |
Website | www.betashares.com.au |
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 globally renowned 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]
References
- McInnes, William & Shapiro, Jonathan, TA Associates buys into Betashares through Mirae sale AFR, 8 March 2021
- Betashares cautions investors on the impact of currency on gold performance. "Advisor Voice", 20 July 2011
- Kennedy, Chris, Betashares tips jump in ETF use Archived 1 October 2011 at the Wayback MachineMoney Management, 23 June 2011
- Betashares launches Australia's first currency ETF Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. "ETF Mate"
- Woodington, Matt, Betashares adds major currencies to its range Financial Standard, 11 July 2011
- Teckchandani, Vishal, Betashares launches hedged gold ETF Morningstar, 5 May 2011
- Patron, Oksana, Betashares launches bank floating rate bond ETF Money Management, 7 June 2017
- Sood, Kanika, Betashares launches fixed-rate corporate bond ETF Financial Standard, 5 June 2018
- Sood, Kanika, Betashares brings in government bond ETF, with longer duration ETF Stream, 10 July 2019
- Commins, Patrick, Betashares' Strong Bear Fund offers way to beat big bad bear markets Sydney Morning Herald, 26 April 2015
- Cowling, Kate, Betashares ETF offers exposure to Apple, Google, Facebook Australian Financial Review, 26 May 2015
- O'Neill, Sam, Can you benefit from the booming cybersecurity industry with the HACK ETF? Motley Fool, 30 November 2017
- Robin, Myriam, Betashares' Was Betashares allowed to dump Facebook from its passive, ethical ETF? Australian Financial Review, 27 March 2018
- Vickovich, Alex, Betashares launches world's lowest cost Aussie ETF Investor Daily, 5 April 2018
- Patron, Oksana, Betashares expands product suite Money Management, 21 August 2018
- Lord, James, Betashares launches Global Quality Leaders ETF on ASX ETF Strategy, 8 November 2018
- Hastie, Eliot, New ETF Launch for Betashares Investor Daily, 24 October 2018
- Tuckwell, David, Betashares lists Australia’s first FTSE 100 ETF ETF Stream, 8 July 2019
- Sood, Kanika, New ETF for ASX All Tech Index "Financial Standard", 25 February 2020
- Dickson, Annabelle, Betashares to launch new fund "Financial Standard", 11 February 2021
- Frost, James, Betashares to launch hybrid security investment vehicle Australian Financial Review, 25 September 2018
- Chandler, Beverly, Legg Mason and Betashares announce launch of Active ETFs ETF Express, 13 February 2018
- Sood, Kanika, Australia's first active fixed income ETF goes live Financial Standard, 20 November 2018
- Thompson, Sarah, Legg Mason prepares new ASX-listed emerging markets fund Australian Financial Review, 11 June 2019