Schroders takes strategic stake in Cobalt programme start-up Qwil

9 October 2018

Schroders has today announced it has taken a minority stake in Qwil, the first fintech start-up to have joined its global in-residence programme.

Qwil – a safe and compliant chat platform which enables firms and clients to communicate directly through one app – joined Schroders’ Cobalt programme earlier this year.

This undisclosed investment formalises Schroders’ relationship with Qwil, underscoring the firm’s commitment to providing innovative asset and wealth management solutions that better serve clients.

Cobalt was launched to help financial services-focused start-ups collaborate with Schroders to support their development and help tackle today’s investment and industry challenges.

Since being part of Cobalt, Qwil has made substantial progress building their platform, culminating in the deployment of the live service for customers in July. Our collaborative approach has means Qwil are able to bring to market a product that meets the complex security and regulatory requirements of global enterprises. The platform is now being used within various parts of Schroders’ businesses in addition to other financial services and professional firms.


Graham Kellen, Chief Digital Officer, Schroders, said:

" Qwil has developed a product which we believe has significant potential to improve the engagement Schroders has with clients, partners and businesses. We are excited to be taking a minority stake in Qwil, joining their board and further backing its growth.

This investment is already tangible evidence of the success of Schroders’ Cobalt programme.”

Charlotte Wood, Head of Innovation and Fintech Alliances, Schroders, said:

"We believe that Qwil’s product solves a real industry challenge, increasing the ease of communication for staff, clients and partners while ensuring the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality are achieved. With the implementation of GDPR and the growing focus on data security, the timing is excellent for Qwil’s product to gain momentum in the market.”


Peter Reading, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Qwil, said:

“Schroders’ investment in Qwil is a real show of support for the work we have been doing since joining the Cobalt programme. With our growth plans across all professional service industries we believe the backing of one of the largest asset management company globally will enable us to further expand our platform and scale more quickly."

Schroders Cobalt programme is specifically targeting tech’ companies which have progressed beyond the conceptual or pre-product stage that offer solutions relevant to investment management. Selected firms benefit from direct access to appropriate business divisions within Schroders, resources and potential investment.

To find out more about the Cobalt programme please click here .
To find out more about Qwil, please click here .

For further information, please contact:

Andy Pearce, Institutional PR Manager Tel: +44 (0)207 658 2203/andy.pearce@schroders.com
Estelle Bibby, Senior PR Manager Tel: +44 (0)207 658 3431/estelle.bibby@schroders.com

Note to Editors
For trade press only. To view the latest press releases from Schroders visit: http://ir.schroders.com/media

Schroders plc
As a global investment manager, we help institutions, intermediaries and individuals meet their goals, fulfil their ambitions, and prepare for the future. But as the world changes, so do our clients’ needs. That’s why we have a long history of adapting to suit the times and keeping our focus on what matters most to our clients.

Doing this takes experience and expertise. We bring together people and data to spot the trends that will shape the future. This provides a unique perspective which allows us to always invest with conviction. We are responsible for £449.4 billion (€508.2 billion/$593.3 billion)* of assets for our clients who trust us to deliver sustainable returns. We remain determined to build future prosperity for them, and for all of society. Today, we have 4,600 people across six continents who focus on doing just this.

We are a global business that’s managed locally. This allows us to always keep our clients’ needs at the heart of everything we do. For over 200 years and more than seven generations we’ve grown and developed our expertise in tandem with our clients’ needs and interests.

Further information about Schroders can be found at www.schroders.com.

Issued by Schroder Investment Management Limited. Registration No 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For regular updates by e-mail please register online at www.schroders.com for our alerting service.

*as at 30 June 2018

Qwil
A highly secure and compliant multi-tenant instant messaging platform designed specifically to connect all professional firms and their clients through one single app. Our product is engineered from the ground up to ensure each user’s identity is verified & trusted, their privacy maintained, and business data kept secure and protected in line with regulatory requirements (including MiFID II & GDPR).

It is functionally rich, works just like the social chat platforms that dominate our personal lives, and provides all the benefits associated with what is the most popular and fastest growing form of electronic communication globally.

Further information about Qwil can be found at www.qwilmessenger.com .

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