Key Takeaways
- • Wealth and asset management M&A tracked deal volume fell to 98 transactions in Q2 2026, down from 116 in Q1 2026 and 107 in Q2 2025, according to Ankura's tracker based on S&P Capital IQ data.
- • Private equity participation reached 39.8% of Q2 2026 transactions (39 of 98 deals), up from 18.3% in Q3 2023 and below the 43.2% peak in Q3 2025.
- • Through Q2 2026, 47% of partial acquisitions in the sector involved PE, compared with 24% in 2024 and 33% in 2025.
- • Wellington Management agreed on June 3, 2026 to acquire Hartford Funds from The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) for $1.9 billion, with closing expected in Q1 2027.
- • The most active acquirers completed only three deals each, roughly 6% of quarterly volume, indicating a fragmented market with room for consolidation.
Summary
Wealth and asset management M&A activity slowed slightly in the second quarter of 2026, according to Ankura's inaugural Wealth and Asset Management M&A tracker, which covers US and Canadian deals classified by announced date. The 98 tracked transactions in Q2 2026 came in just below the 12-quarter trailing average of roughly 99 deals and were the first quarter since Q3 2024 to fall below 100. First-half 2026 volume of 214 deals was essentially flat against 213 in the first half of 2025 and up from 188 in the first half of 2024.
Private equity involvement has risen steadily over the past three years. PE participated in 39.8% of Q2 2026 transactions, up from 18.3% in Q3 2023, though below the peak of 43.2% in Q3 2025. Activity appears skewed toward smaller firms: of 11 tracked deals above $100 million in the first half of 2026, only one involved a PE sponsor. In partial acquisitions, PE participation reached 47% through Q2 2026, compared with averages of 24% in 2024 and 33% in 2025. Ankura attributes PE appeal to the sector's recurring fee-based revenue, high client retention driven by advisor retention, scalable back-office economics, and lighter regulatory capital requirements than banking and insurance.
The largest highlighted transaction is Wellington Management's agreement, announced June 3, 2026, to acquire Hartford Funds Management Group from The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) for $1.9 billion. The structure comprises $300 million in cash at closing plus payments tied to after-tax cash generated over seven years. Hartford Funds manages approximately $160 billion in assets, of which Wellington already sub-advises about 83% under a relationship dating to 1978. Following close, the business will integrate into Wellington's U.S. Wealth business under the Wellington brand, adding roughly 200 client-facing professionals. The parties expect to close in Q1 2027.
The market remains fragmented, with the most active buyers completing only three deals each, about 6% of quarterly volume. Ankura suggests this leaves significant opportunity for well-capitalized acquirers to build scale. Looking ahead to H2 2026, Ankura notes that financing conditions will shape sponsor-backed add-on versus platform activity, and identifies open questions on lower-market consolidation, second-half volume acceleration, and continued PE growth. Ankura also observes that Q3 has historically been the most volatile quarter and Q4 typically the strongest.
Private equity involvement has risen steadily over the past three years. PE participated in 39.8% of Q2 2026 transactions, up from 18.3% in Q3 2023, though below the peak of 43.2% in Q3 2025. Activity appears skewed toward smaller firms: of 11 tracked deals above $100 million in the first half of 2026, only one involved a PE sponsor. In partial acquisitions, PE participation reached 47% through Q2 2026, compared with averages of 24% in 2024 and 33% in 2025. Ankura attributes PE appeal to the sector's recurring fee-based revenue, high client retention driven by advisor retention, scalable back-office economics, and lighter regulatory capital requirements than banking and insurance.
The largest highlighted transaction is Wellington Management's agreement, announced June 3, 2026, to acquire Hartford Funds Management Group from The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) for $1.9 billion. The structure comprises $300 million in cash at closing plus payments tied to after-tax cash generated over seven years. Hartford Funds manages approximately $160 billion in assets, of which Wellington already sub-advises about 83% under a relationship dating to 1978. Following close, the business will integrate into Wellington's U.S. Wealth business under the Wellington brand, adding roughly 200 client-facing professionals. The parties expect to close in Q1 2027.
The market remains fragmented, with the most active buyers completing only three deals each, about 6% of quarterly volume. Ankura suggests this leaves significant opportunity for well-capitalized acquirers to build scale. Looking ahead to H2 2026, Ankura notes that financing conditions will shape sponsor-backed add-on versus platform activity, and identifies open questions on lower-market consolidation, second-half volume acceleration, and continued PE growth. Ankura also observes that Q3 has historically been the most volatile quarter and Q4 typically the strongest.
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