Eaton Vance seeks sub-advisers to expand next-gen ETF offering
Investment consultant, NEPC, is working with Eaton Vance to identify sub-advisers for its new NextShares funds, which will complement existing and planned NextShares funds managed by Eaton Vance and its affiliates. As previously reported here, the next-gen EFTs were first launched in February 2016, and earlier this week the plan sponsor signed a milestone distribution deal with UBS.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NEPC, LLC (www.nepc.com), one of the industry’s largest independent, institutional investment consulting firms, today announced an agreement with Eaton Vance Management (EVM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Eaton Vance Corp. (Eaton Vance), for NEPC to lead a selection process to identify investment managers to sub-advise a series of new Eaton Vance-sponsored NextShares funds to be offered to retail investors and financial professionals. The sub-advised funds will complement existing and proposed NextShares funds managed by EVM and its affiliates.

“Over the last 30 years, NEPC has earned its reputation of being an expert at identifying and pairing the appropriate investment manager and strategy with our clients’ needs based on a series of highly nuanced goals and objectives,” said NEPC Chief Investment Officer, Timothy McCusker. “Our firm has rich experience analyzing investment philosophies across the entire global asset management spectrum and we are applying every aspect of that diverse knowledge and academic rigor to ensure that Eaton Vance works with the best partners. We’re privileged to be working with them on this initiative and to be leading the charge on such an innovative investment offering.”

NextShares are a new way to invest in actively managed strategies. NextShares offer the potential for benchmark-beating returns by applying their manager’s proprietary investment research. Because they trade on an exchange, NextShares may offer cost and tax efficiencies that can enhance shareholder returns. NextShares are expected to be offered by a range of well-known asset managers and across fund asset classes. The first NextShares funds began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC earlier this year. For more information, visit nextshares.com.

“NEPC is a premier investment consultant and we are looking forward to working closely with them to identify investment strategies and investment managers that are appropriate candidates for NextShares sub-advisory relationships under EVM,” said Thomas E. Faust Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eaton Vance. “We are focused on delivering greater value to investors by making available the benefits of NextShares across a broader range of investment strategies.”

About NEPC, LLC

NEPC, LLC® is an independent, full service investment consulting firm, providing asset allocation, manager search, performance evaluation, and investment policy services. It works with institutional investment programs and high-net-worth clients on both an advisory and discretionary basis. The firm services the following client fund types: corporate defined benefit and defined contribution, public pensions, endowments, foundations, private wealth, health care, not-for-profit and Taft Hartley. NEPC advises $910 billion in client assets as of March 31, 2016.

About Eaton Vance

Eaton Vance (NYSE: EV) is a leading global asset manager whose history dates to 1924. With offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Eaton Vance and its affiliates managed $325.6 billion in assets as of June 30, 2016, offering individuals and institutions a broad array of investment strategies and wealth management solutions. For more information, visit eatonvance.com.