• Shelton Group offers ESG target-date mutual funds as QDIA in 401(k) retirement plans
  • Reaffirms Shelton’s commitment to creating a sustainable, energy-responsible future

BOSTON and DALLAS, February 15, 2018 – Natixis Investment Managers announced today that Shelton Group has adopted the Natixis Sustainable Future FundsSM into its retirement plan lineup, thus enabling Shelton Group’s employees to invest their 401(k) retirement assets in the industry’s only target-date open-end mutual fund series that follows a broad environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing approach. Additionally, the Funds are included on Shelton’s retirement plan menu as its qualified default investment alternative (QDIA), meaning employees’ retirement investments are automatically defaulted into the Funds. The Funds select securities based on ESG criteria with respect to issues such as fair labor, anti-corruption, human rights, fair business practices and mitigation of environmental impact, and will seek a diversified portfolio of investments that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Shelton Group is a leading strategic marketing firm exclusively focused in the sustainability space. For nearly 30 years, Shelton has been helping create a market advantage for brands and organizations that are contributing to a sustainable, energy responsible future. Based on over a decade of market research, Shelton uses data and analytics to inform marketing strategy and creative campaign ideas across various mediums such as print, digital, video and messaging strategies.

“As a leader in sustainability marketing, our people are committed to making a difference through their work, so it was only natural to offer the opportunity for them to have a positive impact through their investments, as well,” said Suzanne Shelton, President and CEO of Shelton Group. “We believe employees may feel more connected to their savings through this innovative offering, while also helping take care of our planet.”

“Shelton’s employees make a difference every day through their work, so we are proud to provide them with a retirement plan option that enables them to extend that impact to their investment portfolio,” said Ed Farrington, Executive Vice President of Retirement Strategies at Natixis Investment Managers. “Our research has shown investments that align with personal value really makes people want to be more engaged with their 401(k) plan and increase their retirement savings.”

Research from the Natixis 2017 Global Survey of Individual Investors1 found that 84% of US respondents consider it important to invest in companies that are ethically run. Meanwhile, the Natixis 2016 Defined Contribution Plan Participant Survey2 revealed that 74% of respondents would like to see more socially responsible investments in their retirement plan offering, and 62% said they would increase their contributions if they knew their investments were doing social good. Among Millennials, that figure jumped to 71%.

Before investing, consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Visit im.natixis.com or call 800-225-5478 for a prospectus or a summary prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully.

About Natixis Investment Managers
Natixis Investment Managers serves financial professionals with more insightful ways to construct portfolios. Powered by the expertise of 26 specialized investment managers globally, we apply Active ThinkingSM to deliver proactive solutions that help clients pursue better outcomes in all markets. Natixis ranks among the world’s largest asset management firms3 ($997.8 billion AUM4).

Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers’ affiliated investment management firms and distribution and service groups include Active Index Advisors®;5 AEW; AlphaSimplex Group; Axeltis; Darius Capital Partners; DNCA Investments;6 Dorval Asset Management;7 Gateway Investment Advisers; H2O Asset Management;7 Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Managed Portfolio Advisors®;5 McDonnell Investment Management; Mirova;8 Natixis Asset Management; Ossiam; Seeyond;9 Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; Vega Investment Managers; and Natixis Private Equity Division, which includes Seventure Partners, Naxicap Partners, Alliance Entreprendre, Euro Private Equity, Caspian Private Equity and Eagle Asia Partners. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit the company’s website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers.

About Shelton Group
Shelton Group is a leading strategic marketing firm exclusively focused in the sustainability space. Their vision is that every home and building in America is energy responsible and sustainability is ordinary; their purpose is to create a market advantage for the organizations that are creating that energy-responsible, sustainable future. With research, strategy and creative expertise, they help their clients with sustainability business strategy development, brand building, product development and launch, as well as ongoing storytelling and market engagement. Learn more at www.sheltongrp.com.
1 Natixis Investment Managers, 2017 Global Survey of Individual Investors conducted in February 2017. The survey included 750 US participants.
2 Natixis Investment Managers, DC Plan Participant Survey conducted in November 2016. The survey included 951 US participants.
3 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2017 ranked Natixis Investment Managers (formerly Natixis Global Asset Management) as the 15th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2016.
4 Net asset value as of December 31, 2017. Assets under management (“AUM”), as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets and other types of non-regulatory AUM.
5 A division of Natixis Advisors, L.P.
6 A brand of DNCA Finance.
7 A subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management.
8 A subsidiary of Natixis Asset Management. Operated in the U.S. through Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC.
9 Operated in the U.S. through Natixis Asset Management U.S., LLC.

2028980.1.1