A FUND LAUNCH YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

We do not often recommend a single investment fund to all of our clients, but the AXA Talents Fund, being launched today, is unique in its approach to investing, and every investor could benefit from having some exposure to it. The initial offer period ends on 23 February 2007.

What do Patrick Byrne of America’s Overstock, Vincent Bolloré of France’s Financière de l’Odet, Robert Zolade of France’s Holding Bercy Investissement (HBI), Roberto Colaninno of Italy’s Immsi, Masayoshi Son of Japan’s Softbank Corporation, Uno Yasuhide of Japan’s Usen Corporation and Jason Jiang of China’s Focus Media Holding, all have in common? 

They are all extremely successful entrepreneurs.  More specifically, their companies are all to be found in the AXA Talents Fund. The Fund follows the successful launch of the Talents fund range in Continental Europe.  Since its launch in 2001, the assets under management have grown to over £675 million.

The manager of the new AXA Talents Fund is a Frenchman who is fluent in five languages, Charles Firmin-Didot.  He set up the original Talents Fund, registered in France, which has performed strongly over the last five years, rising by 60.9% compared to 27.9% for the MSCI World Index and 21.9% for the sector average. 

I had the rare opportunity to meet Charles Firmin-Didot at a recent investment workshop in Guildford. He is certainly impressive and it is easy to see why he is at ease meeting with some of the world's greatest entrepreneurs. Charles’ investment methodology is based on a simple premise: trust visionary entrepreneurs.  He believes that focusing on finding experienced, successful and highly responsive entrepreneurs, is likely to produce good long term returns.
 
Entrepreneurs who hold sizeable equity stakes in the company and are not driven by short term financial pressures, should make better decisions than managers motivated by short term market considerations.  Entrepreneurs must have at least a ten year track record and have no conflicts of interest.  For example, the Fund would not invest in an entrepreneur’s listed company if he also ran a private company which may deflect his attention.

If you are looking for a long term growth stock for your portfolio, or thinking of investing in a Stocks & Shares ISA before the end of the tax year, or you simply have some money you could invest for at least five years, then you should have a good look at this fund as it launches. This is a 100% international (mainly ex UK) equity fund and therefore not a fund for the ultra cautious investor. However, even cautious investors could benefit from devoting a small amount of their investments to the talents of the 100 or so entrepreneurs that will be represented in the AXA Talents Fund, and the undoubted skills of Charles Firmin-Didot.

How to Apply

The initial offer period for the AXA Talents Fund is from today to 23 February 2007 (the first dealing day). The fund is available via Cofunds and can be held in a Stocks & Shares ISA.

For further details, including an application form, please refer to our website www.arch-fp.co.uk/axa_talents_fund.php or ask your usual Arch adviser, or telephone 0845 3700 661 or email direct@arch-fp.co.uk.

Past performance is neither a guide to, nor a guarantee of, future returns. The value of your investment is not guaranteed.  This, together with the income from your investments, can go down as well as up, and you may not get back the amount you originally invested. 

The entire market of a particular asset class or geographical sector may fall, having a more pronounced effect on funds heavily invested in that asset class or region. Funds investing in overseas securities are exposed to and can hold currencies other than Sterling.  As a result, exchange rate movements may cause the value of investments to fall or rise.

Funds investing in emerging markets may involve a higher risk than investing in established markets.  Investors should consider whether or not investment in such funds is either suitable for or should constitute a substantial part of their portfolio.

You should always read the key features documents and simplified prospectus carefully before investing. If you are uncertain about anything you should seek guidance from us before investing.

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Arch Financial Planning Limited, Arch House, Collins Court, 39 High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8AS
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