The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday, April 12, edition that M&A may be inevitable in the Canadian asset management space, and there are a few players that could be primed for big deals. The Post's Jonathan Ratner writes in the Trading Desk column that the industry faces a range of challenges including competition from ETFs and Canadian banks, as well as equity fund outflows and regulatory changes. That has prompted Canaccord Genuity Group's Scott Chan to suggest that M&A should be at the top of asset management firms' list, since the cost savings associated with consolidation could be an important driver of earnings, and help offset many top-line pressures. He says: "Against this backdrop, we believe companies have no choice but to review strategic options. Recently in Canada, M&A activities have been relatively quiet, while the pace of consolidation has picked up globally." Mr. Chan highlights several opportunities, including a potential merger between IGM Financial and CI Financial. He also sees a possible tie-up between CI and Franklin Resources.