Smart, a UK-based savings technology company, has announced on Tuesday that it received a strategic investment from Natixis Investment Managers (Natixis IM), a French investment bank.
The partnership between the two will also extend combining their expertise to develop and deliver leading workplace pension market solutions in the UK, as well as in the global markets.
"We are really proud to welcome Natixis Investment Managers as a strategic investor in Smart," Andrew Evans, CEO at Smart said. "Natixis IM shares our vision of utilizing 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."
Aiming to grow international presence
The equity stake allotted to Natixis IM is a part of the Startup 's ongoing preferred investment round. The investment came when the UK fintech is planning for international expansion, especially in the United States and Australian markets.
Smart recently entered into a strategic partnership with Link Group, one of the largest Australian Super Fund administrators.
Launched in 2014, Smart has on-boarded tens of thousands of UK employers, offering auto-enrolment Obligations and also providing workplace savings technology solutions in Dubai and the Republic of Ireland.
"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," Evans 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," Jean Raby, CEO, Natixis IM, said.
