Wellington to Buy Hartford Funds for $1.9 Billion

Wellington Management agreed to acquire Hartford Funds from The Hartford for $1.9 billion. The transaction, announced June 3, 2026, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027 and requires regulatory approval. The Hartford will receive $300 million in cash at closing.

The sale transfers Hartford Funds’ retail distribution platform and advisor relationships to Wellington, which will integrate the business into its U.S. Wealth unit and operate the funds under the Wellington brand.

The firms have worked together for decades. As of June 3, 2026, Wellington already sub-advises about 83% of Hartford Funds’ roughly $160 billion in assets, a relationship the acquisition formalizes.

Wellington is a privately held asset manager that oversees about $1.3 trillion in client assets across multiple strategies and has more than 3,000 clients and 60 locations globally. Hartford Funds has been The Hartford’s retail asset management arm, offering fixed-income mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, including the Hartford Total Return Bond ETF (HTRB), which has over $2.2 billion in assets.

Hartford Funds reported that as of March 31, 2026, 90% of its fixed-income funds had outperformed their peer averages on a ten-year basis.

Jean Hynes, CEO and managing partner at Wellington Management, commented: “For more than 40 years, Wellington and Hartford Funds have partnered in support of advisors and investors. Together, we are building on the strengths that have defined our relationship to reinforce our commitment to the U.S. wealth market through expanded access to investment capabilities, broader distribution reach, and enhanced resources for advisors and investors.”

Christopher Swift, chairman and CEO of The Hartford, added: “We are proud of the strong advisor-centric fund company that we have built. This transaction allows us to realize immediate and continued value for The Hartford’s shareholders and positions Hartford Funds’ exceptional people for ongoing success.”

Hartford Funds will continue to operate as a fund company until regulatory approvals are complete and the deal closes. The firms said they expect the combination to affect fund management, distribution and advisor support as Wellington integrates operations.