Interest in M&A starts to wane in asset management space

But are joint ventures on the rise?

Much has been made of the boom in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) across industries over the past few years as firms seek to take advantage of cost synergies, and the asset and wealth management (AWM) industry is no exception.

Increasing fee pressures on businesses as well as firms' drive to provide access to new asset classes or enter new markets through distribution alliances have driven M&A among asset managers. However, research published recently by PwC on the asset and wealth management industry found that less than a third of AWM CEOs (29%) expect to merge with another firm in the coming 12 months. Valentine's Day Gallery: The biggest break-ups in asset management PwC attributed this relatively low figure in part to what buyers are prepared to pay for firms, with sellers' expectations often too hi...