Prudential Financial Inc.'s asset-management unit is on the deal trail.
PGIM is talking to several firms about potential acquisitions, David Hunt, chief executive officer of the business that manages more than $1 trillion, said in an interview in New York. The company is interested in buying bolt-on units that would expand offerings in areas such as private credit, real assets or non-U.S. businesses, rather than large-scale acquisitions, he said.
"We're definitely in active discussions now,'' Mr. Hunt said. "We're working on a portfolio of things. I'd be surprised if some of them don't hit in the next 12 to 18 months."
Asset managers globally have been eyeing mergers as a way to reduce costs, broaden their product mix and expand geographically as the industry faces pressure on fees. An eventual economic slowdown could trigger more asset-management deals, as disagreements on valuations have so far held back transactions, Mr. Hunt said.
"There has not yet been enough of a meeting of minds on price," Mr. Hunt said. "What would change that dynamic? I think the answer to that is a good old-fashioned downturn. And until we get to that, I think we'll stagger along with a few deals that happen, but not in the magnitude that industry economics should deserve.''
In November, PGIM announced an acquisition of Wadhwani Asset Management, a quantitative macro investment manager in London.