AXA Framlington has announced the appointment of Andy Smith as fund manager on the group’s healthcare team. Smith will run the AXA Framlington Biotech fund, working closely with Deane Donnigan, Gemma Game and Antony Milford. He will report directly to new group CEO Robert Kyprianou, when he joins AXA Framlington on 3 April. Smith has nearly 30 years experience in the global healthcare industry, and joins AXA Framlington from venture capitalist SV Life Sciences where he managed the International Biotechnology Trust.
d;"> Standard Life Add to European Property Team
Sarasin Launches Agriculture Fund
Sarasin & Partners LLP is to launch the Sarasin AgriSar Fund. The fund will be managed by Henry Boucher and will invest in a diversified portfolio of investments in agriculture and its associated sectors. The fund aims to profit from long term factors, and hopes to identify investment opportunities that are set to profit from the rising global demand for food, which the group feel is unmatched by supply. To achieve its aims AgriSar is likely to hold a number of different asset types, including land (via REITs and other quoted vehicles), equities and commodities (via ETFs and ETCs). The fund is due to launch on 31 March with an annual management charge of 1.5%, a minimum investment of £1,000, and initial charge of up to 5%.
Threadneedle Launch Asian Crescendo Hedge Fund
Threadneedle has launched a new hedge fund, the Asian offering will be the ninth in the groups Crescendo hedge fund range. The fund is managed by Jan de Bruijn, a senior manager on Threadneedle’s Far East and Asia Equities team. de Bruijn joined Threadneedle in 2006 and has 15 years’ experience of managing Asian portfolios.