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Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York:

2016 was a banner year for M&A in asset management according to new data compiled by New York-based investment banking firm, Sandler O'Neill. For 2016, there were 149 asset manager transactions announced globally, up from 148 and 135 announced deals in 2015 and 2014, respectively. The total disclosed deal value for 2016 reached $17.1 billion, up a whopping 82% year-over-year.

Last year's total was anchored by four high-profile deals including UniCredit's sale of Pioneer Investments to Amundi Group; the merger of equals between Henderson Group and Janus Capital Group; Banco BTG Pactual's sale of BSI to EFG International and a group of investors' purchase of ARA Asset Management. In total these deals accounted for almost $9 billion. Additionally, there were 64 acquisitions of businesses with AUM between $1 billion and $10 billion, which represented nearly half of deal activity for the second consecutive year, according to the report.

Aaron Dorr, Principal at Sandler O'Neill, says that the significant M&A volume in the industry is reflective of a consolidation trend led by fund of funds and also some hedge fund strategies that are overcrowded and having difficulty reaching critical mass. The report notes that buyers are looking for asset managers with either popular product lines or consolidation opportunities within actively managed funds.

M&A activity within alternative investment firms specifically, hit n......................

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