Investment - Articles - Interim Management Statement

 Highlights

 Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen, commented:

 "Aberdeen continues to make good progress in what have been volatile market conditions. Flows into higher margin products have more than offset redemptions in terms of revenue ensuring profit, cashflow and margins remain strong.

 "The investment environment is likely to be turbulent for at least the next few months. However, market volatility also creates opportunities particularly for long-term investors with a fundamental approach like Aberdeen."

 Assets under management ("AuM") of £185.8 billion at 30 June 2011 were 2.5% higher than at 31 March 2011. The principal changes in AuM during the quarter are shown in the following table.

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 Gross new business wins for the quarter totalled £10.9 billion, compared to £11.2 billion for the same quarter last year, bringing the total for the nine month period to 30 June 2011 to £33.9 billion (2010: £36.3 billion). A further £1.5 billion of new mandates had been awarded at 30 June 2011 but not funded at that date.

 

  Redemptions have slowed further and, as a result, net new business for the quarter totalled £0.7 billion (2010: +£0.3 billion); this creates neutral net flows for the nine month period to 30 June 2011 (2010: +£0.4 billion), with flows having now recovered from a softer first quarter period to 31 December 2010.

 

  We have continued to see strong interest in our range of pooled funds, which attract higher revenue margins, with net inflows of £1.6 billion for the quarter (2010: £1.8 billion) and net inflows of £5.3 billion for the nine month period to 30 June 2011 (2010: £3.9 billion). Net outflows from segregated mandates were £0.9 billion for the quarter (2010: £1.5 billion) and £5.3 billion for the nine month period (2010: £3.6 billion). This, combined with the net flows for the quarter, principally going into equity and property products, provides a positive effect on revenue, adding approximately £15 million of annualised fee income. An analysis of the new business figures for the nine months to 30 June 2011 is provided at the end of this statement.

 

  Fixed income performance has continued to exceed the relevant benchmarks and several of our strategies are now ahead of benchmark over the key three-year period; others remain on track to do so later in 2011. Our Asia Pacific and emerging market fixed income strategies remain a focus for investors. Indeed our Asian Local Currency Short-Duration Bond Fund has attracted investment of £0.2 billion since marketing began in March. Net outflows from the more traditional fixed income strategies have slowed, although we have reflected a £0.7 billion outflow on a mandate that we chose to relinquish because of the very low fee margin.

 

  We continue to see healthy inflows to our equity products, supported by the long-term performance track records. Net inflows for the quarter have again gone mainly into global equities (£1.3 billion) and global emerging markets (£1.2 billion), but we have also added net flows of £0.2 billion into US equities.

 

  Our property teams added £0.9 billion of new mandates in the quarter, although this was partly offset by the withdrawal of assets as we achieved a very successful exit for the investors in a pooled fund which had reached maturity. We continue to see investor interest in our property capability and we have recently begun marketing a third Asian fund of property funds and are developing our global multi-manager platform. Similarly, we are making progress in developing our alternative investment strategies business.

 

  Income, margins and cashflow remain strong. As previously announced, we repaid the $125 million 7.2% Subordinated Notes 2016 on 7 July; the repayment was financed from our cash resources. Markets are likely to remain somewhat volatile in the near term but we remain confident that we can deliver further organic growth.