Macquarie Asset Management expands ETF platform with launch of global small caps ETF as MQAE hits $A1bn milestone

Sydney, 4 June 2026

Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) today announced the launch of a new systematic active ETF, further expanding its existing range of active ETFs in Australia and leveraging its ETF platform to offer investors enhanced diversification opportunities.

Available today via the ASX, the Macquarie Global Small Companies Active ETF (ASX: MQXS) offers Australian investors access to a broader range of businesses, sectors and sources of return beyond large-cap companies, in an active strategy with the potential to deliver above benchmark returns.

It is the fourth systematic active ETF across MAM’s platform and follows the success of MAM’s systematic suite of global and domestic capabilities, with the Australian Core Strategy reaching $A1 billion in funds under management in less than two years. Since launching its ETF platform in 2023, MAM now offers four fixed income and five equity ETFs with around $A2 billion in assets under management, representing ~5x annual growth.

The global small cap universe is broad and diverse, making it difficult to assess companies consistently at scale through traditional research alone. MAM’s systematic investment approach is designed to address this complexity by applying a disciplined, data-driven process across a wide investment universe to identify companies with attractive characteristics.

Benjamin Leung, Head of Systematic Investments at Macquarie Asset Management said: “By applying a systematic process to the vast opportunity set offered by the small cap universe, our strategy seeks to identify companies with desirable characteristics, while helping to reduce the impact of emotional bias that can affect traditional investment approaches.

“Our approach is designed to make global small caps a more accessible opportunity set for investors, while targeting potential outperformance relative to the index,” he added.

The launch of MQXS reflects growing investor demand for access to global small companies through actively managed ETFs, as investors continue to seek attractive returns and more efficient ways to diversify their portfolios.

Blair Hannon, Head of ETFs at Macquarie Asset Management said: “Investors are increasingly looking for active small cap solutions with the potential to deliver consistent excess returns. MAM is the number one active ETF manager by flows on the ASX¹, with 9 actively managed ETFs in Australia totalling assets under management of $A2 billion².

“With concentration in large cap stocks in the S&P 500 at or near all-time highs, diversification into small caps has become even more important in balancing portfolio exposures. In increasingly complex and volatile markets, investors are looking for strategies that can adapt quickly, manage risk dynamically and identify opportunities beyond traditional index exposure.

“It's very hard for a fundamental team to analyse over 3,500 global small companies. A systematic, data-driven investment approach can," he added.

About Macquarie’s Systematic active ETFs:

Macquarie Systematic Investments has evolved its investment process over 30 years into a robust systematic process that has delivered long-term, consistent returns across a range of strategies for leading super funds and institutions. Macquarie Systematic Investments now brings four active ETFs to the Australian market:

• The Macquarie Global Small Companies Active ETF (ASX: MQXS) is a global small caps strategy, systematically managed, aiming to outperform the MSCI World ex Aus Small Cap Index (Index) over the medium to long term (before fees). The strategy is also available in an unlisted unit class.
  Fees for MQXS: 0.45% p.a. management fee + performance fee of 15% of cumulative outperformance of the Fund above the return of the Index (subject to a high watermark)*.
• The Macquarie Core Australian Equity Active ETF (ASX:MQAE) gives investors access to a finely-tuned portfolio of around 100 – 200 ASX shares in a single trade.
  Fees: 0.03% p.a. management fee + performance fee of 20% of cumulative  outperformance of the  Fund above the return of the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index (subject to a high watermark)*.
• The Macquarie Core Global Equity Active ETF (ASX:MQEG) comprises around 200 - 500 systematically selected global shares in a single trade.
  Fees for MQEG: 0.08% p.a. management fee + performance fee of 20% of cumulative outperformance of the Fund above the return of the MSCI World ex Aus ex-Tobacco Index (unhedged) (subject to a high watermark)*.
• The Macquarie Core Global Equity (Hedged) Active ETF (ASX: MQHG) gives exposure to 200-500 systematically selected global shares in a single trade, hedged back to Australian dollars.
  Fees: 0.18% p.a. management fee + performance fee of 10% of the cumulative outperformance of the Fund above the return of the MSCI World ex Aus ex Tobacco Index (hedged) (subject to a high watermark)*.

Macquarie’s systematic active ETFs feature an attractive management fee, and a performance fee only when the index is exceeded*.

To learn more about Macquarie Asset Management’s global ETF platform, click here.

*Other costs apply, which may vary from year to year. See the Product Disclosure Statement for any indirect costs, expense recoveries, or underlying performance fees (if any).
 

About Macquarie Asset Management:

Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) is a leading global asset manager, trusted by institutions, individuals and communities to responsibly manage $A722 billion in assets. MAM provides clients with a diverse range of investment solutions that seek to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns. Macquarie Asset Management is part of Macquarie Group, a diversified global financial services group operating in asset management, retail and business banking, wealth management, as well as advisory, and risk and capital solutions across debt, equity, financial markets and commodities. Founded in 1969, Macquarie Group employs over 19,100 people in 30 markets and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

All figures as at 31 March 2026. 

1. The ranking is based on the net flows of active ETF managers on the ASX between Mar 25 and Mar 26.
2. As at 30 April 2026.