Lunate Capital (Lunate), an Abu Dhabi-based global investment manager, announced a strategic engagement with industry-leading service providers to support the operations of its alternative end-of-service benefits fund platform, Ghaf Benefits.
The service providers with which Lunate will collaborate include BNY, the world’s largest custodian overseeing more than $50 trillion in assets, and SS&C Technologies (SS&C), a global provider of critical technology and services for the financial services industry.
Strategic partnerships enhance Ghaf Benefits
Seif Fikry, Managing Partner at Lunate, said the strategic engagements reflect the firm’s commitment to leverage the expertise of industry leaders with proven capabilities in managing large-scale pension platforms and providing world-class financial advisory services.
“This engagement will enable Ghaf Benefits to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technologies with deep investment expertise, supporting the UAE’s vision of a more attractive and rewarding work environment,” he said.
Hani Kablawi, Head of International, BNY, said their company is delighted to provide custody services for its new end-of-service benefits scheme in the UAE in collaboration with Lunate Capital.
Nick Wright, Global Head of Global Investor and Distribution Solutions at SS&C, said the end-of-service benefits market represents a key growth opportunity in the UAE – a market the company is dedicated to investing in.
BNY, in its role as the sub-custodian, will provide custody services for international securities across multiple markets, drawing on its extensive experience serving major global pension funds.
SS&C, a trusted service provider to more than 22,000 financial services and healthcare companies worldwide, has been appointed by Lunate as an administrative services and primary technology provider. The firm is responsible for managing the platform’s technological infrastructure and bilingual call centre operations.
The Ghaf Benefits provides enhanced workplace benefits for private sector employers and employees in the UAE. It offers a choice of six investment funds, including both conventional and Shariah-compliant options.
Among the UAE’s first digitalised end-of-service benefits platforms, Ghaf Benefits offers innovative features such as an automated asset allocation system for member contributions and the flexibility to allocate past and future contributions across multiple funds through an intuitive employee portal.
The platform will streamline gratuity management for employers through digital onboarding, automated contribution processing, and comprehensive compliance support.
For employees, the platform provides real-time contribution tracking, access to a diversified range of investment options, and a user-friendly portal.