Fintech pensions company Smart has launched a strategic partnership with asset management firm Natixis Investment Management, in order to help it launch its workplace pension proposition in the US and Australia.
Natixis IM has made a strategic investment in Smart and in return will offer a range of investment options to Smart’s pension savers. Smart says this will help the company offer more innovative investment solutions, particularly in illiquid and alternative investment markets.
This investment forms a part of Smart’s ongoing preferred investment round, and will help position the fintech for rapid international expansion. The company confirmed it was looking to enter as it both the United States and Australian markets.
This announcement follows Smart’s recent strategic partnership with Link Group, one of the largest Australian Super Fund administrators.
Since its launch in 2014, Smart has grown rapidly in the UK, and now providers workpalce pensions for tens of thousands of UK employers. It also provides workplace savings technology solutions in Dubai and the Republic of Ireland.
Smart chief executive Andrew Evans says: “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.”
Natixis Investment Managers CEO Jean Raby adds: “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.”