Architas, part of the global Axa Group, has announced the debut of a sustainability fund, prioritising Asian markets.
“The EPIC Global Equity Opportunities Fund provides investors with access to a fund that is specifically focussed on a sustainable investment objective, ensuring their investments are being made in line with the highest regulatory requirements in sustainable investing,” said Matthieu Andre, CEO at Architas.
The fund’s AUM will be invested in three major themes: digital transformation, health and wealth, and sustainable planet, and the firm commits to having 100% of its total assets invested in securities Architas believe are sustainable investments based on their research.
“From our cornerstone research report we conducted last year into investor attitudes towards sustainable investing and ESG, we know that the desire for these types of products is growing rapidly in Asia,” said Zaid Alrifai, head of Asia at Architas.
“By launching the fund, we are expanding our commitment to sustainable investing and delivering a product that aligns with our investors wants and needs,” Alrifai added.
The product was launched to investors in Thailand last week, and pending Securities and Futures Commission approval, Hong Kong will be the next market launch, said the asset manager.
The fund is classified Article 9 under the European Union Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), which means it must focus on sustainable investing as its objective.
London-based Architas, which is the fund of funds specialist unit of the Axa Group, started its operation as an asset management firm in Hong Kong in April 2020.
Architas has an AUM of EUR33bn ($36bn), and aims to include ESG criteria in all of their fund selection and investment products.
