Equisoft, a Canadian digital solutions provider to the financial industry, has announced the acquisition of U.K.-based financial services firm Altus. Located in Bath, England, Altus’ suite of products and deep market penetration adds to Equisoft’s product portfolio. Additionally, it expands its presence within the financial services space with a transaction platform for pension administrators and asset managers. The deal adds a first European location to Equisoft business operations.
Altus occupies an enviable position in the U.K.’s Life and Pension, Insurance, Investment and Wealth sectors. The company provides digital products and services to over 150 clients and financial institutions. This acquisition reinforces Equisoft’s position within the financial services space as a leader in digital transformation solutions.
Luis Romero, Equisoft’s founder and CEO, said:
‘‘The new combined expertise of Equisoft and Altus positions us to lead the U.K. pension transfer market and makes us a strong contender in the European market.
‘’Joining forces founded on entrepreneurial values will allow us to better serve our clients by automating complex back-office processes across the investments value chain. These include investment portfolio transfers, pension fund trading, pension payroll and tax reporting.’’
Altus and Equisoft display a tremendous cultural fit when it comes to a shared vision of customer-focused and business-driven innovation. Further, their respective market-leading and specialized consulting expertise is mutually reinforced.
Altus co-founder and Managing Director, Kevin Okell, commented:
“As we got to know Equisoft’s team, we became increasingly confident this would be a perfect marriage of two technology firms, both committed to transforming financial services with quality software and solutions, and sharing the benefits across clients, staff and communities.
“Given our substantial recent investment in UK Fintech startup Finscape, a business analytics platform for the investment industry, Altus was looking for a partner who understood its enormous potential and also the critical role it could play in the investment value chain. Equisoft grasped this immediately, committing to further investment in the product and to expanding its geographic coverage.”
The acquisition follows a recent trend of large North American companies acquiring smaller UK advisers, such as Connectus Wealth’s purchase of Focus Financial Partners.
Export Development Canada, Fondaction and BMO Bank of Montreal secured the financing of the acquisition.
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