F&C Asset Management was hit by £4 billion in net outflows from its assets under management (AUM) in the three months to 31 December 2011.

Withdrawals from strategic partner assets made up 96 per cent of the outflows, with a £1.3 billion drop coming from the loss of BCP Pension Scheme in Portugal, due to the government’s decision to nationalise past pension obligations.

However, the asset manager did achieve £2.5 billion in positive asset performance but that was partly offset by the weakening of the euro against the pound, which wiped £1.6 billion off the AUM.

Total AUM, therefore, dropped 3 per cent to £100.1 billion, though F&C expects a further £1 billion withdrawal from Portugal this month.

The firm’s report stated, ‘The decline in AUM in the second-half of 2011 and difficult market conditions, particularly in the third quarter, will have an effect on management and performance fees versus the prior year.’

Edward Bramson, executive chairman of F&C, chose to focus on the slight inflow in third-party institutional AUM, rather than the strategic partner assets drop, when assessing the firm’s performance.

He explained, ‘We have made good progress on the strategy we set out in October, showing a modest net inflow, primarily in fixed income mandates, into our third-party institutional business and having a further £1.2 billion of won but unfunded mandates in the pipeline.

‘While asset performance during the fourth quarter was positive, a decline in the sterling/euro exchange rate magnified the reduction in strategic partner assets under management.’