Man-konserni yhtiöittää arvopaperinvälityksensä

Myynti ja hallinnoitavat varat nousivat edelleen tilivuoden aikana

Vaihtoehtoisiin sijoituksiin keskittynyt omaisuudenhoitokonserni Man aikoo irrottaa arvonpaperinvälitystoimintonsa eli Man Financialin konsernista. Uusi MF Global -yhtiö muodostetaan listautumisannilla New Yorkin pörssissä vuoden kolmannella neljänneksellä, jos markkinaolosuhteet ovat suotuisat. Man-konsernin pääjohtajan Peter Clarken mukaan arvonpaperinvälityksen erottaminen varainhoidosta antaa molemmille liiketoiminnoille nykyistä paremmat mahdollisuudet kasvuun.

Maaliskuun 31. päivänä päättyvän tilivuoden ennakkotietojen mukaan konsernin myynti oli 15,9 miljardia dollaria, josta 54 prosenttia tuli yksityissijoittajilta ja 46 prosenttia institutionaalisilta sijoittajilta. Viimeisen neljänneksen myynti oli arvion mukaan 2,8 miljardia dollaria. Yhtiön hallinnoimat varat nousivat yli 61 miljardiin dollariin, kun vastaava luku edellisvuonna oli 49,9 miljardia ja joulukuun lopussa 60 miljardia dollaria.

Man-konserni julkistaa tilivuoden alustavan tuloksen 31.5.2007.

Alla alkuperäinen tiedote kokonaisuudessaan.

Lisätietoja:

Competence Communications Oy Ltd.
Anna-Mari Tiilikainen
puh. (09) 6689 6925
anna-mari.tiilikainen@cocomms.com



Man Group IPO of Man Financial, Pre-Close Trading Update and Quarterly Funds Under Management Statement

Man Group IPO of MF Global

The Board of Man Group today confirms that it intends to separate its Brokerage business, Man Financial, subject inter alia to shareholder approval. The Board has conducted a thorough review in conjunction with its financial advisers and believes that both the Brokerage and Asset Management businesses will be best placed to maximise future returns and growth opportunities through focused independent strategies and appropriate individual capital structures. The Board also believes that significant value will be created for Man Group shareholders from a separation.

Man Financial, our Brokerage business, will be renamed "MF Global" with effect from the separation. Kevin Davis, currently managing director of Man Financial, will become CEO of MF Global, Chris Smith will be COO and Deputy CEO, and Amy Butte will be CFO. The non-executive Chairman will be Alison Carnwath.

The proposed separation will be effected by an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange of a majority interest in MF Global and is intended to take place in the third calendar quarter of 2007, subject to market conditions remaining favourable. It is expected that the net proceeds from the offering will be returned to shareholders later in the year, and it is further expected that this will be in the form of a B share arrangement combined with a share consolidation, subject inter alia to shareholder approval. It is anticipated that both Man Group and MF Global's overall credit rating will be as good as the existing Group ratings.

Man Group will update the market accordingly as further decisions on the planned separation are made.

Peter Clarke, Group Chief Executive of Man Group, commented:

"The separation of Brokerage from our Asset Management business reflects the strong growth and leading market positions we have achieved in both businesses. Separation will allow each business to focus even more effectively on their separate growth strategies and take advantage of the significant business development opportunities in each of their industries. We believe that an IPO of MF Global will create significant value for Man Group shareholders and that Man Group's focus on its leading position in the fast growing alternative investment industry will generate further long-term value for shareholders.

Both businesses enjoyed strong progress in the second half of the financial year. Our Asset Management business has seen continued asset raising in the second half and further significant growth in management fee income. This success reflects the wide geographical reach of our distribution, the continued attractiveness of our product range and the broad spread of investment management content. Net income growth in the Brokerage business will be up significantly reflecting active markets, a growing international presence and a broadening product offering."

This release is not an offer of any securities for sale.

Pre-Close Trading Update and Quarterly Funds Under Management Statement

Man Group announces the following Trading Update and Quarterly Funds Under Management Statement ahead of its close period for the year ending 31 March 2007.

It is anticipated that Group profit before tax* for the year ending 31 March 2007 will be in line with consensus market expectations. Net management fee income will be up by 30% on the prior year, driven by the high level of sales. Net performance fee income will be down around 15% from last year, reflecting a smaller contribution from AHL offset by a significant increase in performance fees from Man Global Strategies and RMF. Brokerage net income* will be up 45%** reflecting both strong organic growth in active markets and the successful integration and build-out of the acquired Refco assets.

Sales for the year are estimated to be $15.9 billion, split 54% private investor product and 46% institutional product. Sales for the three months to 31 March 2007 are estimated to be $2.8 billion. The three months sales comprise previous global launches which accounted for $0.5 billion; joint ventures for $0.3 billion; other private investor sales which mainly relate to open-ended funds for $0.4 billion; and institutional sales for $1.6 billion. Reflecting the level of sales, funds under management have risen and are currently estimated to be over $61 billion up from $49.9 billion at 31 March 2006 (over $60 billion at 31 December 2006). The split of funds under management is private investor $36 billion (31 March 2006: $30.4 billion) and institutional $25 billion (31 March 2006: $19.5 billion).

Redemptions for the year were $6.6 billion, of which private investor were $3.2 billion, which, as a percentage of funds under management, remain at the low end of long-term experience. Included in this figure are redemptions for the three months to 31 March 2007 totalling $1.9 billion, of which private investor were $1.1 billion. Also in the quarter were maturities of around $0.3 billion and negative performance of around $0.5 billion offset by positive FX of around $0.2 billion.

Man Group will announce its preliminary results for the financial year on 31 May 2007.

* Before exceptional items
** Basis prior year profit before tax of $177 million which excludes Refco losses of $21 million
Note: The consensus market expectations of Group profit before tax* referred to earlier in this announcement are based on forecasts provided to Man Group by fourteen UK equity analysts since the Group's interim results in November 2006. The consensus, calculated as the average, is $1,551 million.

Enquiries
Man Group plc 020 7144 1000
Peter Clarke
David Browne

Merlin 020 7653 6620
Paul Downes 07900 244888
Lachlan Johnston 07989 304356
Angus Urquhart 07787 504447
Anja Kharlamova 07887 884788

Walek
Tom Walek +1 212 590 0531
Armel Leslie +1 212 590 0530
Mary Beth Kissane +1 212 889 4113