Nikko Asset Management Australia and the US-based ARK Investment Management have together launched the Nikko AM ARK Global Disruptive Innovation Fund, which will focus solely on disruptive innovation.
It would offer Australian investors access to ARK’s innovation strategy, which is aimed at investment opportunities around robotics, automation, energy storage, genomic sequencing and next generation internet technologies.
The fund would use an open research approach that was designed to identify innovation and its convergence across sectors, economies and geographies, the firm said.
Additionally, ARK’s founder and chief executive officer, Catherine Wood, said it would enable Australian 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,” she said.
ARK is an affiliate of Nikko AM via an equity stake, which Nikko AM bought in August 2017 to enhance its innovation investment solutions.
Nikko AM’s Australian managing director, Sam Hallinan, said: “By working closely with ARK and leveraging their unique investment model, we give Australian clients exposure to disruptive innovation, which is continuing to transform our world at an accelerated rate.”
