LONDON (Reuters) - British wealth manager St James 's Place (L:SJP) posted first-quarter net inflows of 1.3 billion pounds ($1.98 billion), it said on Tuesday, up 9 percent from a year earlier.
Funds under management rose to 55.8 billion pounds, up 22 percent from a year earlier and up 7 percent since the beginning of the year.
St James's Place has benefited from government reforms allowing individuals more tax-free savings, at a time of low interest rates which discourages savers from leaving money in bank accounts or other money market instruments.
"We remain confident that if we continue to focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for our clients...we will continue to grow our business in line with our objectives, in 2015 and beyond," said chief executive David Bellamy in a trading statement.
The group, which also provides a range of services through its Partnership network of financial advisers, reported new business on an annual premium equivalent basis of 232.2 million pounds, up 13 percent from a year ago.
"The scale of the FUM...and the net inflows...remain outstanding and underpin the growth characteristics and dividend-paying ability of the group," said Eamonn Flanagan, analyst at Shore Capital, in a note.