Sam Hallinan

Nikko Asset Management (“Nikko AM”) and Morgan Stanley Wealth Management yesterday announced the introduction of the Nikko AM-ARK Disruptive Innovation Separately Managed Account (SMA). The SMA offering is the first of its kind in Australia and will be available to Morgan Stanley Wealth’s Australian clients

Catherine Wood, Founder and Chief Executive Officer/ Chief Investment Officer at ARK Invest, will introduce the strategy at a series of Morgan Stanley events this week in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, where clients will hear from a range of Investment Managers represented in a new multi-manager SMA offering

ARK Invest specialises in disruptive innovation, which Catherine defines as “the introduction of a technologically enabled new product or service that permanently changes an industry by creating simplicity and accessibility while driving down costs.

She said it will be increasingly important for people to understand the impact of rapid innovations on both individuals and society as a whole – including implications for businesses and the economy.

“Today, technology is disrupting our world at an accelerated rate,” Catherine said. “Disruptive innovation impacts and concerns all of our lives and changes the way the world works, from communication and transportation, through to education and healthcare.”

Ark Invest is an affiliate of Nikko AM via an equity stake that Nikko AM acquired in it in August 2017, to enhance its disruptive innovation focused investment solutions. Nikko AM Australia Managing Director Sam Hallinan explained that the new strategy is the first investment vehicle from Nikko AM and ARK in Australia.

“We are extremely excited to be able to partner with ARK and Morgan Stanley to implement ARK’s first concentrated SMA strategy here in Australia. Through working closely with ARK and applying the firm’s unique investment model, we will be able to deliver Morgan Stanley Wealth’s Australian clients the benefit of exposure to disruptive innovation, which is transforming industries and the global economy.”

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Australia Head of Product Matt Nicholls said astute investors could potentially glean enormous benefit from the technology sector’s ongoing evolution.

“Morgan Stanley has an exclusive distribution agreement with Nikko AM to access the ARK Invest SMA, which means we can offer our clients unique opportunities for investing in baskets of stocks that represent key disruptive innovation themes. Diversification in underlying exposures and key thematics is integral to our client’s success,” he said.

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