Smart and Natixis Investment Managers announce strategic investment

Smart, and Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM), one of the world’s largest asset management firms*, today announced that Natixis IM has made a strategic investment in Smart, combining their expertise to develop and deliver leading workplace pension market solutions in the UK and globally.  

Since its launch in 2014, Smart has grown rapidly, helping tens of thousands of UK employers meet their auto enrolment obligations, as well as providing workplace savings technology solutions in Dubai and the Republic of Ireland. Natixis IM’s equity stake forms a part of Smart’s ongoing preferred investment round and will help position the fintech for rapid international expansion as it looks to enter the United States and Australian markets. It follows on Smart’s recently announced strategic partnership with Link Group, one of the largest Australian Super Fund administrators. 

Commenting on the investment, Andrew Evans, CEO, Smart, said:

“We are really proud to welcome Natixis Investment Managers as a strategic investor in Smart. Natixis IM shares our vision of utilising digital technologies to help improve outcomes for all savers, and we look forward to working with Natixis IM as we build our platform to power the pensions of the future. Having access to their broad suite of affiliate investment capabilities will help us develop ever more innovative investment solutions for our members, including the use of illiquid alternative solutions. Natixis IM’s strategic investment supports our ambitious international growth plans as we look to branch out into the United States and Australia following our successful platform deployments in Dubai and the Republic of Ireland implemented earlier this year."

Jean Raby, CEO, Natixis Investment Managers, added:

“Natixis IM’s equity investment will help accelerate our growth in Defined Contribution pension markets in the UK and globally while also helping to support the global growth of Smart through the wide range of investment capabilities of our affiliated managers, particularly in alternative strategies. This investment is part of the ongoing commitment by Natixis IM to focus on the types of innovative platforms and business models that are leading change across our industry.”

Natixis IM joins Link Group, the leading administrator in the Australian superannuation market, Legal & General Investment Management, and J.P. Morgan as equity investors in Smart.

ENDS

Notes for editors

*1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2019 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2018.

About Smart

Smart is a global savings and investments technology platform provider. Founded in 2014, Smart is one of the UK's largest providers of workplace pensions through the Smart Pension Master Trust. Its award-winning UK master trust is overseen by independent professional trustees, and, as well as the UK, its technology platform is also live in Dubai and the Republic of Ireland. Smart is backed by Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), J.P. Morgan and Link Group, and now Natixis. For more information visit Smart.co, we tweet as @SmartPensionUK.

About Natixis Investment Managers

Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of more than 20 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active Thinking® to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis Investment Managers ranks among the world’s largest asset management firms[1] with $908.9 billion / €828.4 billion assets under management[2].

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers’ affiliated investment management firms include AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; DNCA Investments;[3] Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers;[4] and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, and Natixis Advisors offers other investment services through its AIA and MPA division. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers’ website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.

Natixis Investment Managers’ distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, L.P., a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia.

1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2019 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 17th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2018.

2 Assets under management (“AUM”) as of March 31, 2020. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Managers.

3 A brand of DNCA Finance.

4 A wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Wealth Management.

Provided by Natixis Investment Managers UK Limited which is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (register no. 190258).  Registered Office: Natixis Investment Managers UK Limited, One Carter Lane, London, EC4V 5ER.