Corporate Valuation, Investment Management

September 5, 2017

Recent Trends in Asset Management

This week, we’re sharing some recent media on trends in asset management and the outlook for M&A activity.  Most industry observers foresee an uptick in asset manager dealmaking as rising costs, asset outflows, and a heightened interest from consolidators incent many firms to pull the trigger on a sale or business combination with another RIA.    

Global Asset Management 2017 – The Innovator’s Advantage

by The Boston Consulting Group BCG provides a detailed profile of the RIA industry, M&A trends, growth opportunities in a passive environment, and optimizing investment management for the digital age.

Latest Mercer Move Highlights Hot M&A Demand for Smaller Firms

by Charles Paikert Though no relation to our firm, Mercer Advisors recently announced its fourth asset manager deal of the year, underscoring the desirability of smaller RIAs in a seller’s market.

Skill through Scale?  The Role of M&A in a Consolidating Industry – Investment Management M&A Outlook

by Casey Quirk, a practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP Casey Quirk sees brisk M&A activity continuing in 2017 and beyond as a result of deteriorating economics, distributor consolidation, the need for new capabilities, and a shifting value chain.

Asset Manager Deal Wave Has Just Begun

by Aaron Black This Wall Street Journal piece predicts continued consolidation in the RIA space as struggling active managers combine to stem the tide of asset outflows.

Minority Stake Sales Prop Up Investment Management Dealmaking Activity

by Joe Mantone This recent piece by S&P Global Market Intelligence examines the heightened level of minority investments in asset managers in the context of slowing M&A volume for the sector.

Renewed Appetite – Alts Manager M&A Heats Up

by KPMG With the continued “bar-belling” of investors’ portfolios and strong demand for alternative strategies in the current low-growth, low-yield environment, KPMG sees renewed appetite for dealmaking involving hedge funds and private equity firms. As always, we are available to continue any of the above discussion further. Don't hesitate to call us.
Author
Brooks K. Hamner
Senior Vice President
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RIA Market Update: Q3 2026
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Publicly traded investment management firms advanced in Q3 2026, with both large and small traditional managers outperforming the broader market while alternative asset managers continued to lag.
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Valuation disputes among RIA owners require more than a defensible appraisal—they also require a clear process for selecting a qualified, independent appraiser and establishing fair rules of engagement. Thoughtful dispute-resolution provisions can help parties reach a credible conclusion even when perspectives on value differ.
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Mercer Capital to Sponsor the Association of Trust Organizations 2026 Annual Meeting
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Mercer Capital is pleased to sponsor the Association of Trust Organizations’ 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place September 21-23, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. Matt Crow, Brooks Hamner, and Zach Milam will attend on behalf of the firm.The 2026 Annual Meeting is a 1.5-day conference designed exclusively for the trust industry and will feature more than 13 hours of roundtables, panels, and networking. One of the featured sessions is Tuesday afternoon’s Session VI, “What Makes a Trust Company Worth More? Building Value Before the Deal,” which will be moderated by Matt Crow. The panel will explore the factors that drive valuation, how buyers and sellers evaluate opportunities, and what firms can do today to maximize enterprise value.Matt Crow, CFA, ASA, is the CEO of Mercer Capital and leads the firm’s Investment Management Industry team. He works with RIAs, independent trust companies, broker-dealers, and investment consulting firms on valuation matters related to corporate planning and reorganization, transactions, employee stock ownership plans, tax issues, and intangible asset valuations. Matt is also a frequent contributor to Mercer Capital’s RIA Valuation Insights blog.Brooks Hamner, CFA, ASA, is a Senior Vice President and a senior member of Mercer Capital’s Investment Management Industry team. He provides valuation services to RIAs, independent trust companies, asset managers, wealth management firms, broker-dealers, and investment consultants, and he also advises clients buying or selling their business.Zach Milam, CFA, is a Vice President and a senior member of Mercer Capital’s Investment Management Industry team. He has experience in corporate planning and reorganizations, financial reporting, fairness opinions, litigation support, employee stock ownership plans, and estate and gift tax planning and compliance matters.Mercer Capital regularly works with RIAs, independent trust companies, broker-dealers, and other investment management clients on valuation and advisory matters, and the firm looks forward to connecting with attendees in Park City. Visit the conference website to learn more about this year’s Annual Meeting: https://trustorgs.com/annual-meeting/.
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