Merian Global Investors eyes Neptune acquisition

String of managers have exited Neptune

Merian Global Investors is eyeing Neptune Investment Management as an acquisition target, Investment Week understands.

The firm, which spun out of Quilter - formerly Old Mutual - in 2018, is said to be in talks regarding its first acquisition under its new brand Merian, according to Investment Week sources. Neptune has struggled in recent times, with its full-year results published in October showing total assets shrunk by £170m to £3.6bn, while there has been a deluge of significant portfolio manager departures, including manager of the £331m Neptune European Opportunities fund Rob Burnett, who left the firm after 16 years in December. The firm also saw the departure of US equities managers Ali Unwin...