Nikko Asset Management and US-based Ark Investment Management have launched the Nikko AM Ark Disruptive Innovation Fund.
The Luxembourg-domiciled Ucits global equity fund will focus solely on disruptive innovation and will look to invest in innovations centred on robotics, automation, energy storage, genomic sequencing and next generation internet technologies.
“Ark defines disruptive innovation as the introduction of a technologically enabled new product or service that permanently changes an industry landscape by creating simplicity and accessibility while driving down costs,” the group said in a statement.
Ark CEO Catherine Wood said: “The fund enables investors to access early-stage and emerging companies through listed global equity markets. We believe this offers long-term growth without the high costs and illiquidity typically associated with similar investments accessed through venture capital funds.”
Tokyo headquartered Nikko AM has assets under management of €187bn. Ark is an affiliate of Nikko AM via an equity stake which Nikko AM acquired in August 2017 to boost its disruptive innovation investment opportunities.
Nikko AM Europe CEO John Howland-Jackson said: “By working closely with Ark and leveraging their unique investment model, we give clients exposure to the growth that accompanies disruptive innovation, which is continuing to transform our world at an accelerated rate.”
