FTSE 250 movers: Vistry, Vivendum, Vesuivius unplugged as they go ex-div

FTSE 250: 19,125.11, -75.74 (-0.39%).

Investment platform operator AJ Bell said on Thursday that inflows had decreased in the three months ended 31 March despite seeing customer numbers grow during the period.

AJ Bell said gross inflows in the quarter came to £2.5bn, down from £2.7bn a year earlier, while net inflows dropped from £1.6bn to £1.2bn.

Customer numbers, on the other hand, increased by 20,643 in the quarter to close at 455,008, up 13% in the last year and 5% in the quarter. Total advised customers came to 153,400, up 12% in the last year and 3% in the quarter, while total direct-to-consumer customers of 301,608 were up 13% in the last year and 6% in the quarter.

The FTSE 250-listed group also noted that assets under management had increased to £3.9bn, up 70% over the last year.

Chief executive Michael Summersgill said: "I am pleased to report another quarter of robust trading performance which once again demonstrates the strength of our dual-channel business model."

Ventilation products maker Volution said it has bought I-Vent in Slovenia and completed the acquisition of Ventilairsec SA in France.

Both acquisitions will be earnings enhancing and will report as part of Volution Group's Continental Europe sector. The deals are being funded from existing cash resources and the group borrowing facilities.

I-Vent was bought for an initial €25.2m, with further potential €15m based on stretching growth targets for results for the three years up to and including 2025.

Volution paid an initial €10m, for Ventilairsec with up to €5m more based on delivery of strong earnings growth for the year ending December 31, 2023.

Vistry, Vesuvius and Vivendum were among the stocks trading ex-dividend.