With extra cash on their balance sheets, following a series of profitable years, chief executives of asset management firms are increasingly warming to the idea of getting out their cheque books as a way of growing their businesses.

Nearly three-quarters of chief executives (71%) said they were either open to the idea of carrying out an acquisition or were actively pursuing growth by acquisition, according to Financial News' Asset Management CEO Survey. This was up from 60% last year and 48% in 2013.