How Keylane Acquisition of Heywood Expands Insurtech Reach

Keylane has confirmed an agreement to acquire Heywood, marking a major step in its expansion into the UK and North American insurance and pension technology markets. 

The deal brings together two established providers of software solutions for highly regulated pension and insurance environments and represents Keylane’s first acquisition since partnering with Pollen Street in 2024.

Expanding into new geographies

Headquartered in Utrecht, Keylane provides configurable, customer-centric software platforms for insurance and pension organisations across north-west Europe. 

The acquisition of Heywood extends that footprint into new global markets, including the UK, US and Asia Pacific.

Heywood has an established presence as a specialist provider of pension technology solutions for both pension schemes in the UK and pension plans in North America. 

Keylane says the two organisations share strong alignment in capability and culture, with a mutual focus on compliant, scalable and robust technology suited to complex regulatory frameworks. The combination is positioned to support broader platform availability for insurers and pension administrators seeking modernisation.

Heywood will continue to operate with a high degree of autonomy, retaining its current management team. Its CEO Sian Jones will join the Keylane Leadership Team following completion of the transaction. The company’s existing product strategy and market focus will remain unchanged.

Sian Jones, CEO of Heywood, says: “This marks an important next step for Heywood on our growth journey. 

“Joining Keylane strengthens our ability to deliver market-leading pension technology while continuing to operate with the focus and autonomy our customers value. 

“Our commitment to providing excellent service and robust, future-ready solutions remains firmly in place, and we look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring for our clients and colleagues.”

Strengthening technology capabilities for insurers and pension providers

Keylane’s interest in Heywood centres on its established technology platforms and its track record supporting pension administration at scale. 

The company is recognised for delivering compliant solutions in tightly regulated markets, which aligns with Keylane’s strategy to offer core platforms capable of handling complex product sets for insurers and pension schemes.

By combining product capabilities, Keylane aims to broaden the options available to providers that are modernising legacy systems or expanding digital service delivery. 

The merger is also expected to support customers seeking improved process automation, enhanced data management and more flexible administration models across pension and insurance portfolios.

John Reynders, Group CEO of Keylane, says: “We are highly impressed with what Heywood has accomplished. They’ve built a range of robust, future-ready solutions with satisfied customers, an engaged team and a very professional way of running the business. 

“We believe Heywood is the future of technology solutions for pension schemes in the UK and pension plans in North America. We couldn’t miss this opportunity to join forces with such a strong partner. We see great possibilities arising from the combination of Heywood and Keylane.”

Integration with continued independence

Although Heywood will become part of the Keylane group, the company will retain its established operating model. Keylane has indicated that preserving Heywood’s autonomy is key to maintaining customer confidence and avoiding disruption to existing client programmes.

The move follows Keylane’s partnership with Pollen Street, which has enabled the organisation to accelerate its growth plans. The acquisition of Heywood marks the first major milestone in that strategy and signals an intention to scale its international offer in markets with demand for modern, compliant pension and insurance technology.

By combining the two firms’ capabilities and geographic reach, Keylane expects to deliver a wider suite of platforms to organisations seeking to update or consolidate administration systems and improve digital engagement for members and policyholders.