Credit Suisse sells 7% Aberdeen stake

Credit Suisse has sold its remaining 7% stake in Aberdeen Asset Management.

The 80.4 million shares were put on the market at 4.30pm on Monday and were snapped up within 15 minutes, going between a range of 245p and 255p.

Investment bank Credit Suisse initially had a 25% stake in the asset manager, which is headed up by Martin Gilbert (pictured). It acquired the position following the completion in June 2009 of Aberdeen's acquisition of various Credit Suisse asset management businesses.

Shares in Aberdeen, which earlier this year entered the FTSE 100 index, ended Monday's session at 264.7p.  Yesterday's sale was met with strong demand from UK and institutional investors.

When Credit Suisse took on the shares on 1 July 2009 they were priced 127p each, so yesterday's close at 264p represents a gain of around 107% over the three years. 

More broadly, Aberdeen's share price has risen by around 77% over two years, and at its most recent half-year report to investors, unveiled on 30 April, Gilbert told shareholders that the company's revenue had climbed 7% to £413.1 million, while its underlying profit before tax had reached £162.2 million, representing a gain of 14%.