Aberdeen Asset Management ‘mulling special dividend’

By MARTIN FLANAGAN
Published on 26/11/2012 00:00

ANALYSTS believe Aberdeen Asset Management (AAM) is set to unwrap a share buy-back scheme or special dividend for 2013 when it unveils boosted full-year profits today.

The announcement is likely to come as AAM chief executive Martin Gilbert says the fund manager has been largely able to shrug off the uncertain global economy.

Peter Lenardos, at RBC Capital Markets, said AAM was generating about £50 million a quarter and would likely use it on extra capital returns to shareholders.

AAM is forecast to report adjusted pre-tax profits of around £335m for the 12 months to 30 September, up from £301.9m a year ago.

B&Q‑owner Kingfisher is expected to reveal a 1 per cent dip in third-quarter like-for-like sales on Thursday – much better than the 6 per cent fall in the first half of the year. Kingfisher’s retail profits are expected to have slid 7 per cent to £255m.