AXA IM to partner with the Access to Medicine Foundation and develop a philanthropy mechanism on its impact fund range
- 08 May 2020
AXA IM to partner with the Access to Medicine Foundation and develop a philanthropy mechanism on its impact fund range
- €500,000 to be donated to the Access to Medicine Foundation
- 5% of impact funds’ management fees to be donated to charities
“The current Covid-19 environment highlights even more the need for the financial industry to play a different and more impactful role in our societies. Today, building on AXA Group’s recent response to the crisis and staying true to our convictions regarding active ownership, we are taking an extra step to press for progress in areas that matter. Our partnership with the Access to Medicine Foundation and commitment to donate a portion of our impact funds’ management fees to support projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), not only reflects our purpose but also what we believe to be our mission in making longlasting positive changes worldwide.”, said Gérald Harlin, Executive Chairman of AXA IM.
Partnership with the Access to Medicine Foundation
50%1 of the world’s population do not have proper access to healthcare and the current level of investments are insufficient to combat infectious diseases. The mission of the Access to Medicine Foundation2 is to guide and incentivise pharmaceutical companies to improve access to medicine in low- and middle-income countries.
As part of its impact investment and engagement efforts relating to health, AXA IM is already involved with the Foundation, with Yo Takatsuki, Head of ESG Research and Active Ownership, sitting on the Expert Review Committee of the Access to Medicine Index, one of two research programmes led by the organisation.
Today, AXA IM is strengthening its ties with the Foundation by becoming the first asset manager to sponsor the organisation: a €500,000 donation will be allocated to Access to Medicine activities pertaining to the prevention and response to infectious diseases and pandemics such as current Covid-19.
Working closely with pharmaceutical companies but also key stakeholders in healthcare communities, the effects of the Foundation’s work are systemic, helping to ensure that those who need them have access to essential antibiotics and vaccines.
5% of impact funds’ management fees to be donated to charities
To further deliver a positive impact on society in the long-term, AXA IM is also developing a philanthropic mechanism for its impact fund range. This range of products aims to invest in businesses and projects that are designed to have a direct, measurable and positive impact on society and/or the environment, while simultaneously delivering returns by tapping into key themes of the sustainable economy.
5% of this range’s management fees will be used to fund additional projects aimed at developing solutions with a societal impact. These projects will be focused on the themes which are at the heart of AXA IM’s Corporate Responsibility and Responsible Investment strategies, and aligned with selected UN SDGs, such as:
- SDG 1 – No Poverty
- SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
- SDG 4 – Quality Education
- SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
The impact fund ranges of AXA IM’s Core and Alternatives (Alts) business units will be involved in this initiative, including AXA IM Alts’ fourth impact investment fund which aims to address the basic needs of the emerging consumer through healthcare and financial inclusion. Healthcare has been a fundamental pillar of AXA IM’s wider impact investing strategy since 2012. This fourth impact strategy will tackle the inequality of healthcare access and affordability worldwide whilst recognising the interconnectedness of global populations in addressing these issues.
The selection of charities and associated projects will be decided by dedicated internal committees comprised of AXA IM’s responsible investment and corporate responsibility experts, as well as the relevant investment teams from AXA IM Core and AXA IM Alts.
“As a long-term and active asset manager, we see growing appetite from investors for strategies that encompass responsibility and impact. By embedding a charity mechanism into our impact funds, we are meeting our clients’ expectations while having a direct impact on individuals, communities and our society. This is yet another way for us to bring our mission to life: investing together with our clients to build a better tomorrow,” added Gérald Harlin.
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Disclaimer
Notes to Editors
About AXA IM’s approach to impact investing
AXA IM manages a variety of impact strategies, ranging from private equity investments to green and social bonds and listed equities and bonds, which look to provide solutions relating to issues such as healthcare, climate change and biodiversity.
AXA IM’s impact range is its most focused responsible investment offering, with products specifically designed to have a direct, measurable and positive impact on society and/or the environment. These strategies will report definitive and measurable data against impact KPIs such as carbon footprint or lives improved, and each will target one or more UN SDGs. These strategies have a parallel commitment to deliver returns by tapping into the key themes of the sustainability economy.
As of the end of 2019, AXA IM managed about €1.2 billion of assets in this category.
About the Access to Medicine Foundation
The Access to Medicine Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands. Its mission is to guide and incentivise pharmaceutical companies to play a greater role in improving access to medicine and limiting drug-resistant infections. The Foundation is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the UK Department for International Development. 100+ institutional investors - collectively managing assets in excess of $14 trillion - have already signed the investor statement in support of the Foundation, committing to use its research findings in their investment analysis and engagements with companies.
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 €801 billion in assets under management as at end of December 2019, AXA IM employs over 2,360 employees around the world and operates out of 28 offices across 20 countries. AXA IM is part of the AXA Group, a world leader in financial protection and wealth management.
About AXA IM Alts
AXA IM Alts is one of the global leaders in alternative investments with €137 billion of assets under management as of end 2019, across real estate, infrastructure, private debt, structured finance and hedge funds. AXA IM Alts employs over 700 people located in 15 offices around the world and serve the needs of more than 300 clients from Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Middle East.
About AXA IM Core
AXA IM Core is one of the global leaders in Responsible investments with €536 billion of assets under management as of end 2019 across Fixed Income, Multi-Asset and Equity strategies, of which 82% are fully ESG-integrated. It brings together over 600 people located in 12 offices around the world and serve the needs of more than 2,400 clients in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas.
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