Aberdeen's Gilbert targets greater payouts despite £20bn outflows

Aberdeen CEO Martin Gilbert has said the group is seeking to accompany its ongoing dividend hikes with a share buyback plan despite a "very difficult" year for the company.

Speaking after the publication of the asset manager’s full-year results this morning, Gilbert (pictured) said the company will consider a share buyback programme in the coming months if equity markets remain stable. That is despite a 2014 which the CEO described as a 'very difficult year'; Aberdeen (ex-SWIP) saw net outflows of £16bn for the year to 30 September, though these slowed in the final months of the period. Meanwhile, outflows from Scottish Widows Investment Partnership in the six months since Aberdeen's acquisition of the firm totalled a further £4.4bn. Reporting a 2% ri...