24 January 2024

Quilter plc

Fourth Quarter 2023 Trading Statement

Q4 Reported and core net flows rebound to deliver net positive inflow; fourth quarter IFA Platform gross flows up 44% year-on-year

Quilter plc highlights:

·     Assets under Management and Administration ("AuMA") of £106.7 billion at 31 December 2023 increased by 5% on the end-September position (£101.4 billion). This reflects supportive markets into year-end combined with a contribution from net flows during the quarter.

·      Fourth quarter core business net inflows of £175 million contrasted with net inflows of £242 million in the corresponding period of 2022 and were a significant improvement on the £1 million achieved in the third quarter of 2023.

o  The Quilter channel delivered another strong quarter, resulting in:

§ Full year 2023 net inflows as a percentage of opening AuMA were 15% in the High Net Worth segment and 10% in the Affluent segment.

§ Full year 2023 gross inflows increased by 16% year-on-year in the High Net Worth segment and 12% in the Affluent segment.

§ Fourth quarter gross inflows in the Affluent segment were 8% ahead of the average level in the first three quarters of 2023.

§ Fourth quarter gross inflows in the High Net Worth segment were consistent with the prior quarter levels.

o  The strength of our Platform proposition, enhanced by strategic actions taken, continues to be demonstrated by increased levels of new business despite challenging market conditions:

§ Full year 2023 Quilter channel gross and net flows onto the Platform increased by 15% and 14%, respectively.

§ IFA channel gross inflows onto the Platform in the fourth quarter increased by 44% on the comparable period to £1.4 billion (Q4 2022: £1.0 billion) and by 7% on a full year basis. This improved level of new business flow meant the IFA channel returned to net inflow during the quarter, despite headwinds from the impact of industry consolidation.

o  High Net Worth clients' continued portfolio repositioning given the current macro environment led to an outflow in the IFA/directly sourced channel, with this partially offset by net inflows in the Quilter channel.

·      Fourth quarter non-core net outflows of £119 million were consistent with third quarter levels.

·      Persistency levels in the quarter remained broadly stable at 90% in the High Net Worth segment and 88% in the Affluent segment.

·      Productivity: Quilter channel annualised gross sales per Quilter Adviser were £2.9 million in the fourth quarter, up 21% on prior year period.

Steven Levin, Chief Executive Officer of Quilter plc, commented:

"In what has been a tough year across the industry, we finished 2023 on a positive note with improved fourth quarter performance relative to the third. The Quilter channel continues to drive strong net flows in both our Affluent and High Net Worth segments. Our focus on reshaping our Advice business is demonstrating clear results, with Quilter channel gross sales per Quilter Adviser increasing 21% on the prior year comparative period.

"Our actions to enhance the proposition of our Platform continue to bear fruit. We saw 44% year-on-year growth in fourth quarter gross new business from IFAs onto our Platform in our Affluent segment, resulting in us moving back into a position of net inflows in this channel during the final quarter.

"Across the industry, 2023 saw a lot of focus on strategic positioning of businesses within a consumer duty context; we remain confident that our open and unbundled business model leaves us well positioned for the current environment. We look forward to updating the market on the progress we are making on our strategic goals of building distribution, enhancing propositions, and improving efficiency at our Full Year Results on 6 March 2024."

Enquiries

Investor Relations:

John-Paul Crutchley                             +44 (0) 7741 385 251

Keilah Codd                                           +44 (0) 7776 649 681

Media:

Tim Skelton-Smith                                 +44 (0) 7824 145 076

Camarco: 

Geoffrey Pelham-Lane                          +44 (0) 7733 124 226

Ben Woodford                                          +44 (0) 7990 653 341

Company Secretary:

Clare Barrett                                           +44 (0) 7741 384 512            

About Quilter plc

Quilter plc is a leading UK-centric wealth management business, helping to create prosperity for the generations of today and tomorrow.

Quilter oversees £106.7 billion in customer investments as at 31 December 2023.

It has an adviser and customer offering spanning: financial advice, investment platforms, multi-asset investment solutions, and discretionary fund management.

The business is comprised of two segments: Affluent and High Net Worth.

Affluent encompasses the financial planning businesses, Quilter Financial Planning, the Quilter Investment Platform and Quilter Investors, the Multi-asset investment solutions business.

High Net Worth includes the discretionary fund management business, Quilter Cheviot, together with Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning.

Disclaimer

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements with respect to certain Quilter plc's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance, and results.  By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond Quilter plc's control including amongst other things, international and global economic and business conditions, the implications and economic impact of the conflict in Ukraine, market related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, the impact of competition, inflation, deflation, the timing and impact of other uncertainties of future acquisitions or combinations within relevant industries, as well as the impact of tax and other legislation and other regulations in the jurisdictions in which Quilter plc and its affiliates operate. As a result, Quilter plc's actual future financial condition, performance and results may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in Quilter plc's forward-looking statements.

Quilter plc undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement or any other forward-looking statements it may make.

Quilter plc data tables for the three months ended 31 December 2023 (£bn) - unaudited

Quilter plc data tables for the full year ended 31 December 2023 (£bn) - unaudited

Quilter plc data tables for the three months ended 31 December 2022 (£bn) - unaudited

Quilter plc data tables for the full year ended 31 December 2022 (£bn) - unaudited