AXA creates global alternative credit platform

AXA Investment Managers is to set up a single global alternative credit platform following the merger of its alternative solutions and structured finance teams.

The new alternative credit platform will be under the leadership of Deborah Shire, head of structured finance, and will have a combined team of 100 investment staff based in Paris, London and Greenwich, Connecticut. The team will manage and advise on £31 billion of assets encompassing loans, private debt, collateralised loan obligations (CLOs), insurance-linked securities, asset-backed securities, fund-of-hedge-funds and impact investing. AXA IM’s global head of fixed income and structured finance, John Porter, said: “We believe that by combining the talent, resources and skillset of our Alternative Solutions team, we can create a simpler and more agile structure to the benefit of our clients.” And Deborah Shire commented: “In the context of a low rate environment investors are increasingly looking for high yielding and diversifying assets to provide returns but they also want peace of mind i.e. transparency and a trusted partner who aims to deliver consistently throughout credit cycles.”