(Bloomberg) -- Lazard Ltd.'s asset-management division plans to cut as much as 7% of its workforce and shut down some investment funds by the end of the year, a person briefed on the matter said.
Lazard told employees about the cutbacks last week, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the move hasn't been announced. Investment and non-investment roles will be affected, the person said. The unit had 850 employees as of June 30, meaning a 7% reduction could bring about 60 firings.
Lazard Asset Management oversees $213.6 billion. The cutbacks come as the broader industry faces pressure from passive funds. In August, index-based equity mutual funds and ETFs surpassed active funds in assets under management, a milestone moment for the industry.
This year, Lazard ramped up its focus on quantitative; environmental, social and governance; and artificial intelligence-based strategies for investing. The funds to be eliminated had little potential for growth, the person said. Dow Jones reported the cuts earlier.
Read more: With $0 Fees, Schwab Risks Blowing Up Brokerage Model It Built
To contact the reporter on this story: Gwen Everett in New York at geverett10@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael J. Moore at mmoore55@bloomberg.net, Dan Reichl, Steve Dickson
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