Matthieu Remy
07 Oct 2024
Belfius Insurance and the Belgian sovereign fund set to invest €13M in Easyvest to improve pension planning for Belgians
The Belgian fintech, which announced in July the creation of a pension fund aimed at enhancing supplementary pensions for employees, has closed a significant fundraising round with two key partners for pensions in Belgium: Belfius Insurance and the Belgian state itself, through SFPIM.
With expenditures exceeding €60 billion in 2023, pensions represent a significant part of the state budget. However, the average net pension in Belgium amounts to €1,640/month, which is barely more than the minimum wage. More than ever, Belgians have a strong interest in investing in the second and third pillars of pensions to ensure a comfortable retirement.
Easyvest, the fintech, has been addressing this societal challenge since its launch in 2016 by offering rational and high-performing investment portfolios to as many people as possible. Initially geared toward individual savings and then supplementary pensions for the self-employed, Easyvest's index-based management is now also available through a multi-employer pension fund. This unique structure in Belgium allows all companies, particularly SMEs, to offer their employees and executives supplementary pension plans based on ETFs, thus improving long-term return prospects.
"The Belgian social security system is one of the great assets of our country, but it is under pressure," says Frédéric Van der Schueren, CEO of Belfius Insurance. "Health and pensions, in particular, are two major societal challenges on which Belfius Insurance aims to position itself. We are focusing our efforts on companies that want to make a difference for their employees. Following the partnership announced with Alan, which is transforming health insurance for employees, we are now partnering with Easyvest to offer our clients an innovative approach to employee pensions. With its technological, regulatory, and commercial track record, Easyvest has everything it needs to drive positive change in this area. Belfius Insurance already offers solutions for the self-employed. Through this collaboration, we want to accelerate the adoption of supplementary pensions and contribute to improving the living standards of Belgian retirees."
"SMEs use supplementary pensions far too little in Belgium, even though they make up nearly 50% of the country's economic fabric. Given the aging population, promoting the second pillar of pensions among SMEs with an innovative approach like that proposed by Easyvest aligns 100% with the mission of the Belgian sovereign fund, which is to ensure Belgium's long-term prosperity," explains Koen Van Loo, CEO of SFPIM.
"Our ambition has always been to help Belgians better prepare for their retirement," recalls Matthieu Remy, CEO and co-founder of Easyvest. "If we can't achieve that with this 'dream team' made up of Belfius Insurance and the Belgian state itself, who else will? The partnership between Easyvest, Belfius Insurance, and SFPIM will allow Easyvest to mobilize additional resources for both IT development and the marketing of pension products for employees. Easyvest plans to hire about twenty people for this purpose in the coming months. Easyvest's offering remains true to what has made it successful so far: a cutting-edge digital tool combined with highly personalized human advice."
Regarding shareholding, existing investors are maintaining their stake, and the two co-founders, Matthieu Remy and Corentin Scavée, remain majority shareholders.
It is already possible to join the Easyvest pension fund and open employee pension plans with just a few clicks. Make a simulation for your employees here!
Photo: Frédéric Van der Schueren, CEO of Belfius Insurance, Matthieu Remy, CEO of Easyvest and Koen Van Loo, CEO of SFPIM.
Contact and interviews
Camille Van Vyve, Communication Manager
camille.van.vyve@easyvest.be
+34 696 14 44 34
About Easyvest
Easyvest SA is a fintech authorized by the FSMA as a portfolio management company, helping Belgians easily build high-performing investment portfolios. Founded in 2016 by Matthieu Remy (Civil Engineer UCL, MBA Harvard Business School) and Corentin Scavée (Louvain School of Management), Easyvest currently serves 3,000 clients for whom it manages over €200 million in investments. Whether individual or collective investments through Easyvest Pension Fund, the goal remains the same: to ensure Belgians a financially dignified retirement with the best possible returns. Temporarily ranked #1 on the Belgian App Store in 2021, the Easyvest app has already been downloaded by 10,000 people. www.easyvest.be
About Belfius
Belfius Insurance is the insurance arm of Belfius Bank and Insurance. It distributes its products (Life, Non-Life) on the Belgian insurance market. Belfius Bank & Insurance is an integrated bancassurer owned by the Belgian federal state, rooted in all segments of the Belgian economy and society: partner of 3.8 million individuals, self-employed, and SMEs, a major player in the corporate market, and a reference bank in the public and non-profit sectors. Belfius Insurance is also a strong brand in Life and Non-Life insurance. www.belfius.be
About SFPIM
The Federal Holding and Investment Company (SFPIM) is Belgium's investment fund. SFPIM acts as a trusted partner by helping Belgian companies, whether SMEs or large enterprises, become references in their sector of activity by providing smart capital solutions. SFPIM also plays a major role in preserving the long-term stability of the Belgian economy by contributing to anchoring strategic assets through smart capital solutions in promising or established companies or ecosystems. SFPIM invests in a wide range of companies and sectors, including historical sectors (such as life sciences and healthcare, finance, and aerospace) and new and thriving sectors (such as energy and utilities, transport and mobility, and impact investing). www.sfpim.be