Benoît de Laval, the Former Star Credit Portfolio Manager at AXA IM, launches FLEXIBONDS, his new credit total rturn strategy
Updated:
3 JUL, 2016
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
Benoît de Laval, CFA, Co-CIO and Head of Fixed Income at Itavera Asset Management (Itavera AM), is launching FLEXIBONDS, his new Credit Total Return strategy. The fund launched with a significant initial size of €285 million in assets under management, and its Institutional share class carries the ISIN FR0014019JU3.
FLEXIBONDS follows the same investment philosophy that de Laval applied at AXA IM (now part of BNP Paribas Asset Management), where he spent several years as Senior Portfolio Manager within the Euro Investment Grade Credit team. There, he was responsible for the AXA WF Euro Credit Total Return fund, a strategy that grew to over €5 billion in assets under management and became one of the largest funds of its kind in Europe.
Growth Ambitions for Itavera AM
The launch forms part of Itavera AM's broader growth strategy. The firm, now in its second year, has already surpassed €500 million in assets under management with roughly €200 million in net inflows in 2025, and is targeting €1 billion in AUM. Management at the firm has described the arrival of de Laval and Bonnin as a major milestone, noting that the new bond strategy complements the firm's existing offering and is expected to help broaden its investor base.
FLEXIBONDS is designed to sit alongside Itavera AM's existing fund range, adding an institutional-grade credit strategy to a lineup built around high-conviction, research-driven investment processes.
