Man Group reports record AUM after markets surge

Man Group's managed assets jumped to a record $148.6bn driven almost equally by investment performance and fund inflows during 2021.

Group assets under management rose 20% from a year earlier as net inflows hit $13.7bn and investment performance contributed $12.5bn.

Core earnings per share more than doubled to 38.7 cents from 16.2 cents. Statutory earnings per share increased 263% to 33.8 cents.

The FTSE 250 hedge fund group proposed a final dividend of 8.4 cents a share, taking the annual payout to 14 cents - up from 10.6 cents in 2020.

Man shares rose 3.8% to 200.2p a share at 09:38 GMT. The shares have dropped 13% so far in 2022.

Luke Ellis, Man's chief executive, said: "2021 was an exceptionally strong period of growth for the firm. We ended the year with record assets under management. These results demonstrate the potential of the firm we have built and its ability to deliver growth."

Most indexes ended 2021 at or near record highs as the world began to emerge from the pandemic, boosting returns and attracting funds from investors. Man said its alternative and long-only strategies both increasing assets under management during the year.