Natixis Global Asset Management is restructuring and rebranding NexGen Financial Corp. as it aims to build out its presence in Canada.
Natixis, which is dually headquartered in Paris and Boston, acquired Toronto-based NexGen in December 2014 in an all-cash deal valuing NexGen at about $35 million. On Monday, Natixis announced a series of organizational changes at the newly acquired Canadian operations that will see one branch of the former NexGen focus on building its investment management expertise while the other will concentrate on the wholesale distribution of its mutual funds.
Natixis’ investment management business in Canada will be led by former NexGen co-CEO, Jeffrey Young. NexGen’s other former co-CEO, Abe Goenka, will lead the distribution side of the business.
Young, who joined NexGen in 2005 and was chief investment officer since 2010, will report to John Hailer, CEO of Natixis for the Americas and Asia. Goenka, who has been with NexGen since 2007 and became chief financial officer in 2010, will report to David Giunta, president and CEO of Natixis’s U.S. and Canadian distribution business.
Natixis has also appointed James Roach to the new position of executive vice president, head of sales for Canada, reporting to Goenka. Roach comes from the Natixis side. He has been with the firm for 13 years, most recently as sales desk manager in Boston.
“These enhancements better position the firm to serve the market with a combination of outstanding distribution and access to our broad range of mutual funds,” Hailer says in a statement. “We are currently evaluating opportunities to expand our product lineup to provide Canadian investors with additional access to our numerous money managers from around the world.”
Indeed, Natixis plans to grow its existing mutual fund lineup in Canada by pulling from its stable of more than 20 affiliated asset managers with expertise in various asset classes and investment styles.
At the same time, Natixis also announced that will become known as Natixis Global Asset Management Canada Corp. In addition, the operating companies, NexGen Financial Limited Partnership and NexGen Ltd., will become known as NGAM Canada LP and NGAM Canada Ltd., respectively. NexGen’s mutual fund arm, NexGen Investment Corp., will become NGAM Canada Investment Corp.