DWS Group and private equity firm BlackFin Capital Partners have agreed on a long-term strategic partnership to jointly evolve the digital investment platform into a platform eco system that provides comprehensive digital investment solutions and services to distribution partners, institutional investors and retail clients.
The aim is to adapt the digital investment platform even better to the opportunities offered by the platform market, which in future will undergo a rapid pace of change as a result of new technologies. In addition, both partners have agreed to transfer the digital investment platform into a joint venture with DWS maintaining a stake of 30 percent.
Laurent Bouyoux, president and founding partner of BlackFin Capital Partners, added: “We share the vision of DWS to provide best in class solutions for its clients. To do this BlackFin will lean on our demonstrated history of successfully leveraging technological, operational and regulatory expertise to seamlessly execute complex carve-outs in order to create efficient stand-alone champions.
“For over two decades, we have played a key role in the transformation of the European financial services industry with an established track record of building and growing digital investment platforms while improving client satisfaction. Additionally, our deep relationships within the financial services sector across Europe have consistently delivered growth via international expansion. In partnering with DWS, BlackFin has cemented our commitment to the DACH region and our position as the reference private equity partner for major European financial institutions. We are thrilled to embark on this journey with such a storied organization.”
The digital investment platform IKS is a provider of fund platform services in Germany enabling connectivity between investors, distributors and fund providers. IKS covers distribution channels from B2B through B2B2C to B2C and has long-standing customer relationships.