Travelers says open to acquisitions that meet hurdles

NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - Travelers Cos Inc (TRV.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), one of the largest U.S. property insurers, on Thursday said it is keeping its "eyes wide open" for potential investment opportunities, but any acquisition would be measured by its ability to increase returns for shareholders.

"We know the risks, the balance sheet risk, the people risk, the culture risk (of acquisitions)," said Chief Executive Jay Fishman, adding that Travelers would only make a bid when an acquisition had the potential to change the "shareholder value equation" for the better.

He declined to speak specifically to speculation that Travelers is in the running to buy Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC's (RBS.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) insurance business.

(Reporting by Lilla Zuill, editing by Phil Berlowitz)