GQG has brought forward its plans to launch an exchange traded fund (ETF) as it increases it focus on the adviser market.
Speaking to Money Management, managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Laird Abernathy, said it had fast-tracked plans for an active ETF, which it expected to launch by the end of the year.
“We are a nascent player in the intermediated market at the moment. We were available on platforms since March 2020 and I think it takes three years to get traction in the advisory space.
“We have seen considerable growth from $160 million to $860 million but that is still small compared to the larger players, we would love to achieve that growth again. So we still feel there are plenty of opportunities and we want to capitalise on that. An active ETF would help us to have an unlisted and listed offering.”
An active ETF would also be attractive for advised self-managed super funds clients as the feedback was that it was “labour intensive” for them to invest in the fund.
“We have fast-tracked the idea as we want to be as frictionless as possible for advisers, licensees and investors.”
The firm listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) last year in a float which raised $1.18 billion and Abernathy said this had also helped to raise the firm’s profile with the adviser market.
“We wanted to reach the adviser market by getting on platforms but the ASX presence fasttracks that and we are seeing a lot more interest since the listing. The firm is coming to prominence among larger adviser groups.”
Although the firm is headquartered in the United States, Abernathy said it chose to list on the ASX rather than the New York Stock Exchange as the requirements were less onerous, which would free up time for the firm to focus on its investment activities.
“We chose to list in Australia rather than in the US as the firm has a natural affinity with Australia, our first global institutional client was an Australian superannuation fund and [chief executive] Tim Carver used to run Pacific Current Group.
“We didn’t want the listing to be a distraction as we want to remain focused on the business and the ASX is less onerous than in the US.”
