This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2017/mar/06/standard-life-aberdeen-merger-us-scottish

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Standard Life's Aberdeen deal means job losses – but avoids US takeover Standard Life's Aberdeen deal means job losses – but avoids US takeover
(about 4 hours later)
Martin Gilbert of Aberdeen Asset Management, we thought, only had eyes for American suitors. He has been singing for ages about the appeal of the US, home of vast piles of investment cash, and he was an admirer of Anglo-Australian manager Henderson’s “clever” merger with Janus Capital of the US.Martin Gilbert of Aberdeen Asset Management, we thought, only had eyes for American suitors. He has been singing for ages about the appeal of the US, home of vast piles of investment cash, and he was an admirer of Anglo-Australian manager Henderson’s “clever” merger with Janus Capital of the US.
In the end, though, he has settled on a partner led by his old fishing chum Keith Skeoch 100 miles away in Edinburgh. Standard Life’s presence in the US, however, is rather like Aberdeen’s – small.In the end, though, he has settled on a partner led by his old fishing chum Keith Skeoch 100 miles away in Edinburgh. Standard Life’s presence in the US, however, is rather like Aberdeen’s – small.
Is this a case of there being no takers for Aberdeen in the US? Or is it a glorious realisation that an alliance at home tends to be safer and simpler? Probably more of the former, but there’s no disgrace in taking the defensive Scottish option. This deal is driven by a mutual need to cut costs and the all-share merger – effectively, a takeover by Standard Life of a company half its size – offers the chance of quick results.Is this a case of there being no takers for Aberdeen in the US? Or is it a glorious realisation that an alliance at home tends to be safer and simpler? Probably more of the former, but there’s no disgrace in taking the defensive Scottish option. This deal is driven by a mutual need to cut costs and the all-share merger – effectively, a takeover by Standard Life of a company half its size – offers the chance of quick results.
Most medium-sized active managers are under pressure from lower-cost passive funds, many of them giant US institutions charging fractions of a percentage point in fees. For higher-charging active houses, the future lies in hammering down costs and hoping the humans can beat the machines more often.Most medium-sized active managers are under pressure from lower-cost passive funds, many of them giant US institutions charging fractions of a percentage point in fees. For higher-charging active houses, the future lies in hammering down costs and hoping the humans can beat the machines more often.
Cost-savings are put at £200m, which equates to 10% of the combined base. That is meaningful. The fit in terms of portfolio range is also good. Aberdeen brings specialism in emerging markets, especially Asia. Standard Life is strong in developed markets, both in equities and fixed income, and brings to the table its £50bn GARS fund, a so-called “absolute return” fund that seeks to dampen market volatility. Cost savings are put at £200m, which equates to 10% of the combined base. That is meaningful. The fit in terms of portfolio range is also good. Aberdeen brings specialism in emerging markets, especially Asia. Standard Life is strong in developed markets, both in equities and fixed income, and brings to the table its £50bn GARS fund, a so-called “absolute return” fund that seeks to dampen market volatility.
Does greater scale and diversity open more doors to institutional clients, especially in the US market that Gilbert presumably still regards as a big prize? Absolutely, but not as surely as strong investment performance and favourable investment fashions. Aberdeen has been leaking funds in the soggy Asian market for three years. Standard Life lost its fizz last year as GARS underperformed its benchmark. A turnaround on both fronts is as important as the cost-savings. Does greater scale and diversity open more doors to institutional clients, especially in the US market that Gilbert presumably still regards as a big prize? Absolutely, but not as surely as strong investment performance and favourable investment fashions. Aberdeen has been leaking funds in the soggy Asian market for three years. Standard Life lost its fizz last year as GARS underperformed its benchmark. A turnaround on both fronts is as important as the cost savings.
An all-Scottish deal at least makes the wider politics easy. There will be job losses but it must be better for Scotland that Aberdeen is not consumed by a US firm and instead becomes part of one that will be Europe’s second largest fund manager.An all-Scottish deal at least makes the wider politics easy. There will be job losses but it must be better for Scotland that Aberdeen is not consumed by a US firm and instead becomes part of one that will be Europe’s second largest fund manager.
The trickier political piece lies the boardroom, where Skeoch and Gilbert will be co-chief executives, an arrangement with a poor record elsewhere. Personal friendship is helpful but ripping costs out of a company worth £11bn is not like spending a pleasant afternoon together on the river Tay. “A single CEO calling the shots and retaining overall responsibility is critical in all such transactions,” says Shore Capital’s Eamonn Flanagan. He has a point.The trickier political piece lies the boardroom, where Skeoch and Gilbert will be co-chief executives, an arrangement with a poor record elsewhere. Personal friendship is helpful but ripping costs out of a company worth £11bn is not like spending a pleasant afternoon together on the river Tay. “A single CEO calling the shots and retaining overall responsibility is critical in all such transactions,” says Shore Capital’s Eamonn Flanagan. He has a point.
If there is a reason to believe the Gilbert & Skeoch show can defy the doubters, it may be fact that both companies have had near-death experiences in the past 15 years. Standard Life demutualised in 2006 to escape a mess in endowment mortgages. Aberdeen went to the brink a couple of years earlier by selling split capital investment trusts, a terrible financial product. Those brushes with disaster may concentrate minds on the long-term. But if happy harmony proves impossible, one man – presumably Gilbert, as Aberdeen is the junior partner – will have to fall on his fishing rod.If there is a reason to believe the Gilbert & Skeoch show can defy the doubters, it may be fact that both companies have had near-death experiences in the past 15 years. Standard Life demutualised in 2006 to escape a mess in endowment mortgages. Aberdeen went to the brink a couple of years earlier by selling split capital investment trusts, a terrible financial product. Those brushes with disaster may concentrate minds on the long-term. But if happy harmony proves impossible, one man – presumably Gilbert, as Aberdeen is the junior partner – will have to fall on his fishing rod.
On day one, though, this looks a logical deal. In an industry that is increasingly global, both sides need to be bigger and leaner. It could work.On day one, though, this looks a logical deal. In an industry that is increasingly global, both sides need to be bigger and leaner. It could work.
PSA can’t avoid politics in Vauxhall dealPSA can’t avoid politics in Vauxhall deal
Carlos Tavares, chief executive of Peugeot owner PSA, was full of soothing words for his British audience as Vauxhall came under his control. In a soft Brexit, the cheaper pound would boost competitiveness of the Ellesmere Port and Luton plants. A harder exit from the European single market would provide a “very nice opportunity” to source more car parts inside the UK.Carlos Tavares, chief executive of Peugeot owner PSA, was full of soothing words for his British audience as Vauxhall came under his control. In a soft Brexit, the cheaper pound would boost competitiveness of the Ellesmere Port and Luton plants. A harder exit from the European single market would provide a “very nice opportunity” to source more car parts inside the UK.
Don’t rely too heavily on these statements. Tavares is in the business of cutting costs and, at pan-European car manufacturers, plants are always in a state of internal competition to secure the next model. The Astra is safe at Ellesmere Port until 2021 but decisions on a successor will start to be made next year. The timing is awkward because the form of Brexit may not be clear by then. Don’t rely too heavily on these statements. Tavares is in the business of cutting costs and plants are always in a state of internal competition at pan-European car manufacturers to secure the next model. The Astra is safe at Ellesmere Port until 2021 but decisions on a successor will start to be made next year. The timing is awkward because the form of Brexit may not be clear by then.
Consider Taveres’ “nice opportunity” an appeal for the UK government to fund a re-arming of the UK supplier base. Ellesmere Port imports 75% of its parts. To enjoy the benefits of a cheaper pound, the ratio might have to fall below 50%. There is indeed an attractive opening there for UK firms, but it may require government to push the market harder and faster that it would move on its own. Politics is never far away in the car business.Consider Taveres’ “nice opportunity” an appeal for the UK government to fund a re-arming of the UK supplier base. Ellesmere Port imports 75% of its parts. To enjoy the benefits of a cheaper pound, the ratio might have to fall below 50%. There is indeed an attractive opening there for UK firms, but it may require government to push the market harder and faster that it would move on its own. Politics is never far away in the car business.