DWS and Nippon Life Extend Strategic Alliance

DWS is pleased to announce that it has extended its strategic alliance with Nippon Life for another five years from 11 March 2023. The strategic alliance has been an important pillar for the companies to further anchor their growth in identified areas of collaboration.

Commenting on the strength of the alliance, Stefan Hoops, CEO of DWS, said: “Signing our strategic alliance agreement in 2018 was driven by the conviction that we will form a fruitful partnership to the benefit of our clients and stakeholders. The last five years are a testament to the strengths and merits of this partnership. We are therefore proud to be able to extend this strategic alliance for another five years, increase our collaboration and aim to create even greater value for both companies.”

As part of the strategic alliance, DWS and Nippon Life agreed to continue to work on expanding distribution reach, product innovation and research acuity. Initiatives include:

identifying funds which each company and its affiliates will seek to distribute in their respective distribution channels
introducing more DWS’ exchange-traded fund options for Japanese investors
closer collaboration between DWS and Nippon Life in the areas of insurance advisory and solutions for the latter’s subsidiaries, as well as third-party clients
integrating the best of each other’s research capability to supplement knowledge gaps and cultivate research talent at both companies

Minoru Kimura, Managing Executive Officer of Nippon Life Insurance Company, commented: “Nippon Life is proud to be a trusted partner of DWS. We believe the continuing strategic alliance will allow us to work on initiatives which over time will germinate and bear fruits. By complementing each other’s strengths and working on areas such as greater investments, distribution, knowledge transfer and outside-of-Japan collaboration, this agreement will position both companies well in order to expand its asset management business globally.”

The strategic alliance agreement was first signed in March in 2018 and had garnered strong support across all levels at both companies. In the last five years, the alliance saw increased investments made by Nippon Life into DWS product solutions, joint product distribution through the establishment of a mutual network, and new business collaboration with Nippon Life’s group affiliates.

About DWS Group

DWS Group (DWS) with EUR 821bn of assets under management (as of 31 December 2022) aspires to be one of the world's leading asset managers. Building on more than 60 years of experience, it has a reputation for excellence in Germany, Europe, the Americas and Asia. DWS is recognized by clients globally as a trusted source for integrated investment solutions, stability and innovation across a full spectrum of investment disciplines.

We offer individuals and institutions access to our strong investment capabilities across all major liquid and illiquid asset classes as well as solutions aligned to growth trends. Our diverse expertise in Active, Passive and Alternatives asset management – as well as our deep environmental, social and governance focus – complement each other when creating targeted solutions for our clients. Our expertise and on-the-ground knowledge of our economists, research analysts and investment professionals are brought together in one consistent global CIO View, giving strategic guidance to our investment approach.

DWS wants to innovate and shape the future of investing. We understand that, both as a corporate as well as a trusted advisor to our clients, we have a crucial role in helping navigate the transition to a more sustainable future. With approximately 3,800 employees in offices all over the world, we are local while being one global team. We are committed to acting on behalf of our clients and investing with their best interests at heart so that they can reach their financial goals, no matter what the future holds. With our entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit, we work every day to deliver outstanding investment results, in both good and challenging times to build the best foundation for our clients’ financial future.