AXA IM Offers Fintech Exposure with Launch of Cross-border Fund


Managed by Vincent Vinatier, the Luxembourg-domiciled fund has been launched on the back of successful fundraising in Japan where the strategy has seen inflows of nearly $1 billion. This follows the rebrand and shift in investment focus of the existing UK-domiciled AXA Framlington Financials Fund, which was renamed the AXA Framlington FinTech Fund.

The AXA WF Framlington FinTech fund aims to invest globally in a concentrated portfolio of 40-60 companies expected to have high growth potential across three key themes which offer opportunities across the entire fintech value chain:

  • Cashless society – People around the world are increasingly making payments digitally, taking us towards a cashless society.
  • Innovative leaders – Many established financial companies are disrupting the financial services industry, by using technology to serve their large, existing client base.
  • Technology enablers – ‘Enablers’ provide the crucial technology to support and develop fintech companies’ digital presence via various channels and devices e.g. cyber security and regulatory technology (RegTech).

Vincent Vinatier, manager of the AXA WF Framlington FinTech fund commented:

“Technological transformation is changing many aspects of how we live and work, and this is particularly true when it comes to financial services. Innovations in financial technology like mobile banking, digital payments, big data and analytics are taking us into a new era and influencing how we manage our money on a daily basis.”

“With the AXA WF Framlington FinTech fund, we aim to capture the performance of this expanding global fintech market by investing in a concentrated portfolio of companies expected to have high-growth potential, which apply technological innovations to disrupt and improve the delivery of financial services.”

The AXA WF Framlington FinTech fund forms part of the “Evolving Economy” fund range which is comprised of five key themes: Automation, the Connected Consumer, Ageing and Lifestyle, CleanTech, and Transitioning Societies, which AXA IM believes will shape the way companies operate in future.

Matthew Lovatt, Global Head of Framlington Equities, comments on the fund’s positioning within the Evolving Economy:

“At AXA IM we have conducted extensive research into the way consumer behaviours are changing, and we have found that the number of financial transactions made each day has increased steadily in recent years, and digital payments have become more embedded in routine activities. As this pace of innovation gets quicker, customers increasingly expect the ability to make secure financial transactions anywhere, anytime, on any platform. This is an exciting thematic shift in the industry that we are committed to.”

The fund is registered and available to professional investors in the UK, Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Portugal, and Liechtenstein.


Press contacts

Ellis Ford
Ellis.Ford@axa-im.com | +44 20 7003 1225

Jamie Wynn-Williams
Jamie.Wynn-Williams@axa-im.com | +44 20 7003 2680

Hélène Caillet 
Helene.Caillet@axa-im.com | +33 1 44 45 88 06

    About Vincent Vinatier

    Vincent is a Portfolio Manager within Framlington Equities, where he has been responsible for managing the Financials strategy, focusing primarily on Global financials since 2012. Prior to this role, Vincent had been a Senior Equity Analyst and Fund Manager at Schroders, managing UK Financials and European Media and Telecom portfolios. Preceding this he had his first stint at AXA IM, where for four years he worked as a Senior Equity Analyst covering the UK financials, European Media and Telecom sectors. Vincent started his investment career at Cazenove & Co in 1997 as an Equity Analyst covering European Media Small & Mid cap and French Equities. Vincent has two Master’s degrees, in Business Administration from Audencia Nantes School of Management; and in International Securities and Investment Banking from Reading University.

    About AXA Investment Managers
    AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is an active, long-term, global, multi-asset investor. We work with clients today to provide the solutions they need to help build a better tomorrow for their investments, while creating a positive change for the world in which we all live. With approximately €740 billion in assets under management as at end of September 2018, AXA IM employs over 2,390 employees around the world and operates out of 30 offices across 21 countries. AXA IM is part of the AXA Group, a world leader in financial protection and wealth management.

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    Sub-Fund risks

    The capital of the Sub-Fund is not guaranteed. The Sub-Fund is invested in financial markets and uses techniques and instruments

    which are subject to some levels of variation, which may result in gains or losses.

    Counterparty Risk: Risk of bankruptcy, insolvency, or payment or delivery failure of any of the Sub-Fund's counterparties, leading to a payment or delivery default.

    Impact of any techniques such as derivatives: Certain management strategies involve specific risks, such as liquidity risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, legal risk, valuation risk, operational risk and risks related to the underlying assets.

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    AXA Investment Managers UK Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This press release is as dated. This does not constitute a Financial Promotion as defined by the Financial Conduct Authority and is for information purposes only. The content herein may not be suitable for retail clients. No financial decisions should be made on the basis of the information provided. Strategies mentioned may not be registered or available in your jurisdiction. This communication is not an offer to buy or sell any investments, products or services and should not be considered as a solicitation or as investment, legal or tax advice.

    Before making an investment, investors should read the relevant Prospectus and the Key Investor Information Document, which provide full product details including investment charges and risks. The information contained herein is not a substitute for those documents or for independent advice.

    AXA WF Framlington Fintech is a sub-fund of AXA World Funds. AXA World Funds’ registered office is 49, avenue J.F Kennedy, L-1885 Luxembourg. AXA World Funds is registered under the number B. 63.116 at the “Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés”. AXA World Funds is a Luxembourg SICAV UCITS approved by the CSSF and managed by AXA Funds Management, a société anonyme organized under the laws of Luxembourg with the Luxembourg Register Number B 32 223RC, and whose registered office is located at 49, Avenue J.F. Kennedy L-1885 Luxembourg.

    Information about the staff team Framlington Equities of AXA Investment Managers and / or AXA Investment Managers is only informative. We do not guarantee the fact that staff remain employed by AXA Investment Managers and exercise or continue to exercise in the Framlington Equities team of AXA Investment Managers and / or AXA Investment Managers.

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