Schroders Chief Executive Officer asserts denial of family stake sell-off claims
In the bustling world of asset management, Schroders has been making significant strides in its transformation journey. The company's strategic plan, unveiled earlier this year, has had a notable impact on its growth and investment strategies, as well as its financial performance in the first half of 2025.
Richard Oldfield, CEO of Schroders, has recently addressed speculations about the company's future. He confirmed that Schroders is not up for sale, quashing rumours about the Schroder family selling its stake in the company [1]. The family, which owns approximately 44% of Schroders, is reportedly committed to the company's long-term success [4]. Their support for Schroders is immense, according to Oldfield [5].
Schroders' transformation programme has indeed been a game-changer. Although it has resulted in short-term profit drops due to restructuring and associated costs, it has enabled cost efficiencies and portfolio adjustments that support the company's long-term growth objectives and investment strategies [1][2][3].
Financially, Schroders reported a 29% drop in statutory profit before tax to £196.9 million in H1 2025 from £276.3 million in H1 2024. However, the company's total assets under management (AUM) remained stable at £776.6 billion, with gross inflows rising 8% year-on-year to £68.2 billion [2]. This robust client interest and inflows suggest strong support for Schroders' strategies.
The wealth management arm of Schroders saw a 24% increase in adjusted operating profit to £110 million and added £2.7 billion in net new business in Q2, growing its wealth management AUM to £145 billion from £142.5 billion in 2024 [2].
Schroders has also made significant strides in digital innovation. Last month, the company launched its global digital assets centre of excellence in Singapore [6].
Despite challenges in joint ventures, particularly in China, where Schroders experienced net outflows of £1 billion, the company reported net inflows of £4.5 billion in the first half of the year, excluding joint ventures [7]. Oldfield described this reallocation of capital in China as a "right-sizing" of operations, indicating a continued commitment to the region [8].
In a comment to the Financial Times (FT), Oldfield emphasised Schroders' focus on investing selectively, simplifying and scaling the business, and deploying resources to drive sustainable growth through the transformation programme [3]. He is confident that this disciplined approach will position Schroders well for future growth.
In conclusion, Schroders' transformation programme is currently affecting short-term profits due to restructuring and associated costs but is enabling cost efficiencies and portfolio adjustments that support Schroders' long-term growth objectives and investment strategies. Stable AUM and strong net inflows highlight ongoing client confidence underpinning these strategies [1][2][3].
References:
- FT Advisor
- Reuters
- Citywire
- Financial Times
- Financial Times
- Schroders Press Release
- Citywire
- Citywire
- Amidst the company's transformation journey, Schroders is expanding its digital footprint by launching a global digital assets center of excellence, demonstrating its commitment to AI and finance in managing digital assets.
- Despite a temporary drop in statutory profit before tax, Schroders' strategic plan is proving effective, as reflected in the increase in assets under management (AUM) and robust client interest, highlighting the success of its wealth management arm.
- With a long-term focus on growth and investment strategies, Schroders is not only refining its traditional finance business but also reallocating resources to drive sustainable growth, signifying a shift towards a more digital and AI-driven wealth management business.
