Natixis Investment Managers has made a strategic investment in Smart, the technology platform behind the Smart Pension master trust.
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.
Smart chief executive Andrew Evans said: "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 Natixis IM's 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 chief executive Jean Raby 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.
