Investment manager Betashares will join the move towards the private credit markets with the forthcoming launch of private credit products in the USA, now that the exchange traded fund specialist has hit $50 billion in assets, according to The Australian Financial Review.
Betashares was founded in 2009 and says it has one million Australian investors on its books, mostly through offering a large range of ETF products. It expanded in 2023 into Australia’s $3.9 trillion superannuation industry through the acquisition of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s superannuation business of about 19,000 members.
Betashares’ chief executive and founder, Alex Vynokur has been looking at other opportunities to expand its market offering.
“Providing access to asset classes which were difficult to access has actually become the hallmark of the ETF journey – in many ways, the hallmark of the business, the hallmark of Betashares,” he told the AFR. “We’ve become the leading player, the number one player in cash and fixed income in Australia because we have opened up access to bonds.”
As private markets grow, ASIC is increasing its supervision of private equity funds, private credit funds and their advisers. In 2025, ASIC’s thematic surveillance of private equity and private credit funds is focusing on fund governance, valuation practices, management of conflicts of interest and fair treatment of investors. Additionally, for retail private credit funds, ASIC will test compliance with disclosure and distribution obligations.
Also read: Credit Under The Microscope
State Street’s 2025 Global ETF Outlook estimated Australia’s ETF industry will expand by 25 per cent from $240 billion to $300 billion in funds under management in 2025
Betashares last month announced the launch of a range of fixed income ETFs that deliver predictable monthly income with a defined maturity date. Vynokur, said the Defined Income ETF range was an innovative, Australian first that would help investors boost their income, while also providing more predictability over the return of capital at maturity date.
Betashares last year received a strategic investment from Singapore’s sovereign wealth investment company, Temasek, which is helping accelerate a range of growth initiatives, including new products, services and technologies.
