Mackenzie Taps SEI for U.S. CIT Expansion, Signals Quantitative Strategy Push

Event summary

  • Mackenzie Investments partnered with SEI Investments Company to launch four Collective Investment Trusts (CITs) targeting U.S. institutional investors.
  • The new CITs offer Mackenzie's Global Quantitative Equity strategies, including International Large Cap, International Small Cap, US Small Cap, and Emerging Markets All Cap.
  • SEI Trust Company will serve as the trustee for the CITs, leveraging SEI's $260 billion in CIT AUM as of September 30, 2025.
  • Mackenzie manages approximately $244 billion CAD in assets as of December 31, 2025, and is part of IGM Financial Inc.

The big picture

This partnership represents Mackenzie’s strategic push to expand its presence in the U.S. institutional market, a key growth area for Canadian asset managers. By leveraging SEI’s operational expertise and established CIT infrastructure, Mackenzie aims to offer a cost-efficient and flexible investment solution. The move also highlights the growing demand for quantitative investment strategies among institutional investors seeking to generate alpha and manage risk in a complex market environment.

What we're watching

Market Adoption
The success of these CITs will depend on whether U.S. institutional investors embrace Mackenzie’s quantitative approach within this structure, potentially indicating a shift in preferred investment vehicles.
Regulatory Scrutiny
As CITs operate under exemptions from investment company registration, increased regulatory focus on their structure and operations could impact Mackenzie and SEI’s ability to scale this offering.
Performance Risk
The reliance on quantitative models introduces performance risk; any significant market shifts or model failures could erode investor confidence and impact AUM growth.

Related topics

Financial Services