AXA Investment Managers has launched a new exchange traded fund platform with a focus on responsible investment and active strategies.
The platform will initially launch with two UN Sustainable Development Goals-aligned ETFs focussed on climate and biodiversity themes. Both are classified as article 9 funds under SFDR regulation, which aim to deliver long term financial growth and a positive and measurable impact on the environment.
Marco Morelli, executive chairman of AXA IM said the firm’s decision to enhance its offering was driven by investor demand.
Morelli said: “To meet the changing demands of investors we must continue to innovate and enhance our investment offering, and through the launch of this new platform we do this by combining our active investment insight with the flexibility of an ETF.
“With the support of AXA and leveraging our key strengths, primarily within active management and responsible investing strategies, this platform will complement our existing fund range while answering client demand for ETF structured vehicles and offering them a better trading experience as well as easy access to such strategies, high liquidity, and enhanced transparency due to the nature of these products.”
Hans Stoter, global head of AXA IM Core, commented: “We are observing long term trends such as blockchain technology, banking disintermediation and the emergence of online brokerage platforms which can transform the way funds are distributed. In that regard, we believe active ETFs will play an important role in the evolution of the asset management industry and we believe we are well placed to embrace such an evolution.
“Even though ETFs are often viewed as passive investments, historically replicating the portfolio holdings and performance of broad market indices, the ETF market has evolved to now offer a range of non-traditional custom-built portfolios. Today’s ETF can be actively managed, further expanding investor choice. In that regard, our new ETF range will complement our wide range of mutual funds.”
