AXA Investment Managers announced today the launch of AXA IM ETF, its new exchange traded fund platform focused on active strategies and responsible investing.

The new platform is being introduced with two UN SDG-aligned ETFs, focused on climate and biodiversity themes. The new funds will be classified as Article 9 under the SFDR regulation, with dual objectives to have a positive and measurable impact on the environment, and to deliver long-term financial growth.

According to AXA IM, the new platform aims to offer investors with access to the firm’s strengths in responsible, thematic and quantitative investing, while providing the enhanced liquidity and transparency of an ETF structure.

Marco Morelli, Executive Chairman of AXA IM, said:

“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, added:

“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.”

Along with the launch of the new platform, AXA IM also announced the appointment of Brieuc Louchard as Head of ETF Capital Markets. Louchard joins AXA IM after 7 years at Euronext where he most recently served as Head of ETF. Prior to Euronext, Louchard worked as Co-Head ETFs Sales Trading at Carax Institutional Financial Broker, and on the ETFs and Program Trading team at Société Générale CIB.