Global asset manager AUM tops $100trn for the first time

Passive investing among top asset managers hits new high

The combined assets under management (AUM) of the 500 largest global asset managers exceeded $100trn for the first time in 2019, peaking at $104.4trn, according to new research from the Thinking Ahead Institute.

It represents an increase of 14.8% from $91.5trn in 2018 and an almost three-fold increase from $35.2trn in 2000, with a growing concentration of assets among the largest firms, the Thinking Ahead Institute found. The top 20 managers have seen their market share increase from 38% in 2000 and 29% in 1995 to 43% of total assets as of last year. The research also shows a boom in passive investing among the world's largest asset managers, with assets reaching a record high of $7.9trn at the end of last year. MGIM acquires Seneca Investment Managers to create £4.7bn AUM business ...