M&G plc is a global investment manager headquartered in the City of London. Since its de-merger from Prudential plc, it has been listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
History
Pre-2000
Municipal & General Securities Company Limited launched the First British Fixed Trust in 1931.[5] It held the shares of 24 companies in a fixed portfolio that was not changed for the fixed lifespan of 20 years. The trust was relaunched as the M&G General Trust and later renamed as the Blue Chip Fund.[6]
M&G Investments introduced its savings or "thrift" plans in 1954.[7]
In March 1999 M&G Investments, which by then was the UK's largest unit trust group, was acquired by Prudential plc.[8]
2000–2020
In May 2016, it announced it was to launch a direct online investment service for retail investors to invest directly in its range of funds.[9]
In July 2016, M&G Investments suspended redemptions on its £4.4 billion Property Portfolio fund following heavy withdrawals after the referendum on the UK's exit from the European Union.[10][11][12]
In August 2017, Prudential plc (the parent company of M&G Investments) announced it would merge M&G Investments with its Prudential UK and Europe businesses to form a new division. The division would be called M&GPrudential, which the firm described as a savings and investments business.[13] Then in August 2019 it announced that it would de-merge the investment business as "M&G plc".[14] The de-merger was completed in October 2019.[15]
In December 2019, M&G was forced to gate a £2.5 billion property fund after liquidity was challenged. The company said it was due to Brexit and Election uncertainty.[16]
2020–2021
In 2020, it announced its intention to acquire Ascentric, a digital wealth management platform, from its competitor Royal London.[17] In August 2021, M&G acquired Sandringham Financial Partners. Sandringham will be part of M&G Wealth. The acquisition will bring more than £2.5 billion of assets under advice to M&G plc.[18]
Current operations
The company operates two fully owned subsidiaries: M&G Real Estate, providing global real estate investment services, and Infracapital, a specialised infrastructure investment firm.[19]
Sponsorship
M&G was the official sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show until 2022.[20]
Notable current and former employees
The group chief executive John Foley[21] joined former M&G parent Prudential in 2000[22] as deputy group treasurer,[23] subsequently leading the combination of M&G Investments with Prudential’s UK insurance business.[22] In 2015, Foley became chief executive.[24] In 2017, he executed the merger of the company with M&G Investments and Prudential UK and managed the enlarged M&G through the demerger from Prudential plc in 2019, after the decision was made to shift the focus on Asia and Africa.[22][25] In April 2022, M&G announced Foley's retirement after 22 years to leave once his successor has been found.[25]
In September 2022, the company announced the appointment Andrea Rossi as its new CEO, starting on 10 October on a salary of £875,000 and a bonus package.[26] Upon appointment, Rossi said that he would not pursue a break-up of the business.[27]
References
- M&G PLC overview Companies House, 2018-07-02, retrieved 2024-01-23^
- Home M&G, retrieved 2024-01-23^
- Patrick Hosking. M&G finally finds new chairman in Edward Braham The Times, 25 February 2022^
- Annual Results 2025 M&G, retrieved 12 March 2026^
- Notes & Comments, The Fixed Trust The Glasgow Herald, 23 April 1931, retrieved 8 March 2017^
- M&G to merge Blue Chip away Investment Week, 1 May 2006^
- PEPs bring power to the people The Independent, 15 October 1995, retrieved 4 October 2019^
- Pru buys M&G for agreed pounds 1.9bn The Independent, 12 March 1999, retrieved 4 October 2019^
- M&G online service to undercut fund supermarkets FundsandShares.co.uk, retrieved 9 July 2016^
- Sarah Jones. U.K. Property Funds Freeze $12 Billion to Halt Brexit Retreat Bloomberg.com, 5 July 2016, retrieved 9 July 2016^
- Darren Lazarus. Third U.K. Property Fund Halts Withdrawals Amid Brexit Market Turmoil WSJ.com, 5 July 2016, retrieved 9 July 2016^
- A $6 billion UK property fund stopped people withdrawing money after investors all rushed for the exit Business Insider, 6 July 2016, retrieved 9 July 2016^
- M&G and Prudential arms to merge Citywire, 10 August 2017, retrieved 4 October 2019^
- M&G goes 'full circle' as it reveals branding ahead of demerger Portfolio Adviser, 14 August 2019, retrieved 4 October 2019^
- Prudential Completes Demerger Of M&G, Shares Begin Trading In London Morning Star, 21 October 2019, retrieved 22 October 2019^
- Richard Lowe. M&G keeps UK property fund suspended Real Assets, 2020-02-25, retrieved 2020-07-03^
- M&G acquires Royal London's £14bn Ascentric platform Wealth Manager, retrieved 2020-07-03^
- M&G plc to acquire Sandringham Financial Partners retrieved 2021-08-24^
- Infracapital :: Home www.infracapital.co.uk, retrieved 2020-07-03^
- The M&G Garden – The Retreat BBC, retrieved 4 October 2019^
- MNG.UK Company Profile & Executives - M&G PLC - Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com, retrieved 22 May 2022^
- Harriet Agnew, Adrienne Klasa. M&G chief executive John Foley to retire Financial Times, 27 April 2022, retrieved 22 May 2022^
- Tom Budszus. TOP NEWS: M&G Chief Executive Officer John Foley to resign Morningstar UK, Alliance News Limited, 27 April 2022, retrieved 22 May 2022^
- Patrick Hosking. M&G chief John Foley retires amid flurry of boardroom changes The Sunday Times, 27 April 2022, retrieved 22 May 2022^
- Sally Hickey. M&G CEO John Foley to retire after 22 years FT Adviser, 27 April 2022, retrieved 22 May 2022^
- M&G names Andrea Rossi as next chief executive Investment Week, 2022-09-29, retrieved 2022-09-29^
- Russell Hotten. Andrea Rossi, former Axa boss appointed to head M&G, rules out break-up of firm retrieved 2022-09-29^
- Anne Richards Quits M&G to Head $414 Billion Money Manager Bloomberg.com, 27 July 2018^
- Rupert Neate. Prudential's mystery fund manager paid £17.5m revealed The Guardian, 3 April 2014, retrieved 2 April 2014^
- Mr. Ian Fairbairn 10 December 1968^