LONDON (Reuters) - Anglo-South African financial services firm Old Mutual (L:OML) said on Friday its operating profit for 2014 rose 16 percent to 1.6 billion pounds ($2.5 billion), helped by improving economic growth in Britain and the United States.
The firm, which has a majority stake in South Africa's Nedbank (J:NEDJ), said economic conditions in South Africa remained relatively weak, but equity markets performed strongly and low oil prices could help the South African consumer.
Adjusted operating pre-tax profits were forecast at 1.56 billion pounds in a poll provided by the company.
Net client cash flow came in at 4.9 billion pounds, with funds under management rising 6 percent in constant currency terms to 319 billion pounds.
Old Mutual brought its fund management arm OM Asset Management (N:OMAM) to market last year, but still owns 78 percent of it.
Its wealth arm bought money manager Quilter Cheviot for 585 million pounds late last year, enabling it to target high net worth clients.
Nedbank also bought a 20 percent stake in African bank Ecobank (LG:ETI) last year and announced plans to buy a majority stake in Kenyan insurance firm UAP Holdings.
"Our focus now is on integrating the acquisitions, delivering operational improvements and creating value from these investments," the company said in a trading statement.
Old Mutual said it would pay a final dividend of 6.25 pence per share, with a total dividend of 8.7 pence, in line with forecasts.
($1 = 0.6481 pounds)