LONDON (Alliance News) - BP Marsh & Partners PLC Tuesday said it expects the inflow of new business opportunities to remain robust, citing improvements in economic conditions over 2014, which it expects to continue in 2015.
"Hopefully, prolonged improved economic activity will sustain current healthy business confidence, thereby encouraging further entrepreneurial behaviour," BP Marsh & Partners said.
The company, which takes stakes in early stage financial services businesses, noted that it has seen mergers and acquisitions activity within the Lloyd's of London insurance market itself. BP Marsh has stakes in a number of insurance companies and brokers, including Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings PLC and Hyperion Insurance Group Ltd.
For the financial year ended January 31, 2014, the group declared and paid a dividend of 2.75p per share.
"It remains the board's intention to maintain at least this level of dividend for the years ending January 31, 2015 and January 31, 2016, subject to ongoing review and approval by the board and the shareholders," BP Marsh & Partners said.
"The shift towards a regular dividend stream is in recognition of the steady growth of the group's investment portfolio, whilst also demonstrating that the group is an attractive capital and income investment," BP Marsh & Partners added.
"The management team remains positive about the group's ability to generate long term returns from the existing investment portfolio, alongside an interesting pipeline of new investment opportunities," the company said.
By Samuel Agini; samagini@alliancenews.com; @samuelagini
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B.p Marsh (BPM)