The renaming of AXA IM ETF ICAV to BNP PARIBAS EASY II ICAV marks the final operational step in the integration of AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) into BNP Paribas Asset Management Europe.
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Article created by the editorial staff of ETFWorld.co.uk
Sabrina Principi, Global Head of Business Development, ETF & Index Solutions, BNP Paribas
The context: the AXA IM-BNP Paribas Asset Management merger
The renaming of AXA IM ETF ICAV to BNP PARIBAS EASY II ICAV marks the final operational step in the integration of AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) into BNP Paribas Asset Management Europe. This operation forms part of the wider transaction concluded on 1 July 2025, when BNP Paribas Cardif finalised the acquisition of AXA IM for €5.1 billion, with a total transaction value of €5.4 billion including the sale of Select.
The legal merger between AXA Investment Managers Paris and BNP Paribas Asset Management Europe was completed on 31 December 2025, creating a unified platform with over €1.6 trillion in assets under management, placing the group among the top three asset managers in Europe. The platform’s liquidity exceeds €1 trillion, whilst the alternative platform amounts to approximately €300 billion, the largest in Europe.
The change: details and timing
The transformation of the issuer AXA IM ETF ICAV into BNP PARIBAS EASY II ICAV will take effect on 16 April 2026, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Ireland. The change relates solely to the corporate name: it does not entail any change to the investment objectives, management policies or operating procedures of the funds.
The Irish ICAV, structured as an umbrella fund with asset segregation between sub-funds, retains its existing governance structure. The directors remain Kevin O’Brien, Fiona Mulcahy, Ouajnat Karim and Jean-Louis Laforge, with its registered office at 33 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2.
The sub-funds involved: full list of those renamed
The change affects all sub-funds of the ICAV. The main ETFs affected include:
AXA IM Nasdaq 100 UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II Nasdaq 100 UCITS ETF
AXA IM MSCI Emerging Markets Equity PAB UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II MSCI Emerging PAB UCITS ETF
AXA IM MSCI Europe Equity PAB UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II MSCI Europe PAB UCITS ETF
AXA IM MSCI USA Equity PAB UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II MSCI USA PAB UCITS ETF
AXA IM MSCI World Equity PAB UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II MSCI World PAB UCITS ETF
AXA IM Euro Aggregate Bond Opportunities UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II EUR Aggregate Bond Opportunities UCITS ETF
AXA IM Euro Credit PAB UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II EUR Credit PAB Opportunities UCITS ETF
AXA IM Global High Yield Opportunities UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II Global High Yield Opportunities UCITS ETF
AXA IM US High Yield Opportunities UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II US High Yield Opportunities UCITS ETF
AXA IM US Treasury 0-1 Year UCITS ETF → BNP PARIBAS EASY II Bloomberg US Treasury 0-1Y UCITS ETF (or BNP PARIBAS EASY II US Treasury 0-1 Year UCITS ETF should the change to the investment objective not be approved)
Implications for investors
Shareholders in the sub-funds concerned will not incur any additional costs associated with the name change. No extraordinary legal or administrative costs are expected, nor are there any changes to the maximum Total Expense Ratio. The securities will continue to be traded on the usual markets with the same ISINs and the same operational characteristics.
For investors trading on Italian markets, the listing documents filed with CONSOB (such as those relating to the AXA IM Global High Yield Opportunities UCITS ETF and the AXA IM MSCI Emerging Markets Ex-China Equity PAB UCITS ETF) remain valid, with the updated name to be reflected in the forthcoming prospectuses.
BNP Paribas’ strategy in the ETF segment
With this integration, BNP Paribas Asset Management strengthens its position among the leading ETF providers in Europe. The platform combines AXA IM’s expertise in active management and responsible investment with the BNP Paribas Easy structure, which already manages over €1 trillion in liquid assets.
The group aims to become the European leader in fundraising for private asset investments, positioning itself among the continent’s leading ETF operators. The BNP Paribas Easy range covers passive, systematic and fundamental strategies, with a particular focus on ESG and sustainable themes.
What happens next
The extraordinary general meeting to approve the changes to the investment objective of the AXA IM US Treasury 0-1 Year UCITS ETF (which also includes the renaming) was held on 25 March 2026. The results were published in the listing jurisdictions. Investors who did not wish to remain in the fund could exercise their right to redeem their holdings by the effective date of the changes, without incurring any costs other than the standard transaction fees.
From 16 April 2026, all official communications, prospectuses and regulatory documentation will bear the new name BNP PARIBAS EASY II ICAV.
Source : ETFWorld.co.uk
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