The process for the manufacture of an auto-oxidatively cross-linking hybrid polymer, in particular an aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion, comprises the step of reacting in a mini-emulsion process one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form an addition polymer in the presence of a modified auto-oxidatively crosslinkable (AOC) polymer which has been modified with terminal unsaturated groups of the formula —C(R1)═CH2 wherein R1 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl and wherein the AOC polymer is a hydrophobic polymer having an acid number between 5 to 30. The resulting aqueous hybrid polymer dispersion can be used for the manufacture of coating compositions, ink compositions or adhesives and coating compositions comprising the hybrid polymer dispersion as a binder.