Company Website: http://ngam.natixis.com
BOSTON & TORONTO -- (Business Wire)

Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. and NexGen Financial Corporation (NexGen) (NFX:TSX.V) announced today that NexGen and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Natixis Global Asset Management, L.P. (Natixis) 2438801 Ontario Inc., have completed a previously announced statutory plan of arrangement pursuant to which Natixis has indirectly acquired all of the outstanding common shares of NexGen for consideration consisting of CA$7.25 cash per common share, for an enterprise value of approximately CA$35 million (the “Arrangement”).

“Canada is an outstanding market for asset managers,” said John Hailer, chief executive officer of Natixis in the Americas and Asia. “NexGen does business with more than 1,600 financial advisors and more than 100 dealers throughout Canada, and we look forward to building on this strong foundation – bringing sophisticated, customized solutions to investors seeking to achieve their goals through durable portfolio construction.”

The Arrangement was approved by shareholders of NexGen at a special meeting held on December 17, 2014. The Ontario Superior Court issued a final order approving the Arrangement on December 18, 2014. NexGen’s shares which are subject to a trading halt, are expected to cease trading and be de-listed from the TSX Venture Exchange on December 22, 2014. Applications will be made for NexGen to cease to be a reporting issuer in the applicable jurisdictions.

NexGen is recognized for offering tax-efficient wealth management strategies. Their patent pending proprietary mutual fund structure is designed to achieve a number of tax-planning objectives that are not publicly offered by any other Canadian mutual fund company. The acquisition will expand NexGen’s existing mutual fund platform and bring an even greater selection of products for a well-diversified portfolio to Canadian investors.

"We are pleased that the transaction is complete, and we are eager to begin working as a part of the Natixis team," said Abe Goenka, NexGen co-CEO. "This is a great opportunity to work with some of the most respected asset managers in the world to provide even better results for our current clients and increase our capabilities in an extremely competitive marketplace."

The Arrangement constitutes a change of control of NexGen Financial Limited Partnership, the manager of the NexGen mutual funds, effective today. A notice to investors was sent to each securityholder of the NexGen mutual funds on November 19, 2014 and securities regulatory approval was obtained on December 12, 2014.

In keeping with the Natixis multi-affiliate business model, NexGen will operate autonomously with the existing senior management team. There are no immediate plans to make staffing changes or changes to the NexGen business model.

About Natixis Global Asset Management

Natixis Global Asset Management is a multi-affiliate organization that offers a single point of access to more than 20 specialized investment firms in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The firm ranks among the world’s largest asset managers.¹ Through its Durable Portfolio Construction® philosophy, the company is dedicated to providing innovative ideas on asset allocation and risk management that can help institutions, advisors and individuals address a range of modern market challenges. Recognized as the #1 U.S. mutual fund family for 2013 performance in the annual Barron’s/Lipper Fund Family Ranking,² Natixis Global Asset Management brings together the expertise of multiple specialized investment managers based in Europe, the United States and Asia to offer a wide spectrum of equity, fixed-income and alternative investment strategies.

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s assets under management totaled $894.3 billion (€708.0 billion) as of September 30, 2014.³ Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. is part of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A.’s affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include Absolute Asia Asset Management; Active Investment Advisors;⁴ AEW Capital Management; AEW Europe; AlphaSimplex Group; Aurora Investment Management; Axeltis; Capital Growth Management; Darius Capital Partners; Dorval Finance;⁵ Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management;⁵ Harris Associates; IDFC Asset Management Company; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Managed Portfolio Advisors;⁴ McDonnell Investment Management; Mirova;⁶ Natixis Asset Management; Natixis Environment & Infrastructure Luxembourg; Ossiam; Reich & Tang Asset Management; Seeyond;⁷ Snyder Capital Management; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers; and Natixis Global Asset Management Private Equity, which includes Seventure Partners, Naxicap Partners, Alliance Entreprendre, Euro Private Equity, Caspian Private Equity and Eagle Asia Partners. Visit ngam.natixis.com for more information.

The registered address of 2438801 Ontario Inc. is 40 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3Y4.
¹ Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2014 ranked Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. as the 16th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2013.
² Barron's/Lipper 2013 one-year fund family ranking based on 64 qualifying U.S. fund companies. Each fund family must have at least three funds in Lipper's general U.S.-stock category, one world (global and international), one mixed-asset/balanced (stocks and bonds), two taxable bond and one tax-exempt bond fund. Natixis was not ranked for the 5- and 10-year periods. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
³ Assets under management (AUM) may include assets for which non-regulatory AUM services are provided. Non-regulatory AUM includes assets which do not fall within the SEC’s definition of ‘regulatory AUM’ in Form ADV, Part 1.
⁴ Division of NGAM Advisors, L.P.
⁵ An affiliate of Natixis Asset Management.
⁶ A subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management.
⁷ A global investment unit of the Natixis Asset Management organization, operated in the U.S. through Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC.

About NexGen Financial

NexGen Financial Corporation was founded to develop value-added investment solutions for financial advisors and their clients. The firm is focused on the creation of innovative investment products and services that meet the needs of Canadians seeking more tax-efficient investment opportunities and greater control over the tax treatment of their investments. Managed by strong investment professionals, NexGen’s unique Registered and Tax-Managed Fund offerings are well positioned as attractive investment opportunities for Canadians looking to manage the tax costs associated with traditional investment solutions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation and that are based on the expectations, estimates and projections of management of the parties as of the date of this news release unless otherwise stated. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. More particularly, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information concerning expectations regarding the consideration to be issued pursuant to the transaction, the ability of NexGen and Natixis to consummate the transaction on the terms and in the manner contemplated thereby, the anticipated benefits of the transaction, and the anticipated timing of the transaction. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the time required to prepare and mail meeting materials to NexGen shareholders, the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary court, shareholder, stock exchange and regulatory approvals and the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to the closing of the transaction, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time by NexGen with the Canadian securities regulators, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Regulatory Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1083056.2.1

Contacts:

Natixis Global Asset Management
David Snowden, 617-866-0950
david.snowden@ngam.natixis.com
or
NexGen Financial Corporation
Abe Goenka, CPA, CA, CFA, 416-775-3723
Co-Chief Executive Officer
agoenka@NexGenfinancial.ca
or
Jeff Young, CFA, MBA, 416-775-3707
Co-Chief Executive Officer
jyoung@NexGenfinancial.ca

Source: Natixis Global Asset Management