Standard Life Shares

ReportInvestor

Don't forget that Standard are part of the wider market.

Amongst all this potential bid excitement, we should also take account of possible bearish world market sentiment afoot today.

Should no bid materialise, the shares could be hit by a double whammy.

It can often be better to "travel than to arrive".

Gorgeous_George

Indeed.

Maybe I'll offload half of them tomorrow.

Sometimes I feel like Mavis. 'Oooh, I don't really know.'



GG

Ian_W

ReportInvestor wrote:

"..... Brokers were sceptical, however, with Merrill Lynch saying it believes the story is 'very unlikely,' while Cheuvreux described the report as having 'below average credibility'......"

Does that mean it appeared in the Express,, rather than the FT?

I would say appearing in the Express makes it HIGHLY credible. Any story that doesn't mention:
1. Princess Diana
2. Princess Diana
3. Princess Diana
4. House Prices Booming
5. IHT
6. HUGE tax increases for home owners

just doesn't get past first base - so it must be true.

DocProc

Here is the 'official AFX News announcement'. Since it did not source from the company it is either derived from a rumour or a leak. However, it would probably be correct to say that, 'Of course, Standard Life is obviously being checked out by all kinds of potental bidders, such as AXA. This kind of assessment is happening all the time to lots of companies.'

Anyhow, here it is:

Axa mulls 7 bln stg offer for Standard Life - report
AFX

LONDON (AFX) - French insurer AXA is considering making a 7 bln stg takeover approach for Standard Life, according to a report in the Financial Sunday Express.

The new UK chief of Axa, Nicolas Moreau, is understood to be keen to add Standard Life's UK life assets to a business that has already acquired Equity & Law, Sun Life, Provincial, Guardian Royal Exchange and PPP, the report said.

Earlier this month, Axa and Swiss Re reportedly failed in a bid to take over the life assurance arm of Lloyds TSB PLC, Scottish Widows, for 8 bln stg.

No-one from Axa was available to comment on the report. A Standard Life spokesman said: 'It's all market speculation and we would not make any comment on it.'

philip.waller@afxnews.com

paw/abr

ReportInvestor

The Times is sceptical about the Express story

"....many analysts played down [the chances of a bid from Axa], noting that Axa is already heavily exposed to a difficult pensions' market..."

But on the other hand :rolleyes:

The Glasgow Herald has Ned Cazalet suggesting a possible reason for Axa interest

Axa likes to be number 1 or 2 in its operating markets, and that's not the case in the UK.

And here's some positive news about the sector to keep us all interested.

Friends Provident's unexpectedly good numbers see FP shares rise 5%

ReportInvestor

Yahoo chart

Quite a volatile day (both ways) in relation to the FTSE 100.

DocProc

16:38pm
31/10/06

Standard Life plc
02 November 2006

Standard Life plc

David Nish appointed Group Finance Director of Standard Life plc

Standard Life plc ('the Company') is delighted to announce that David Nish will
be joining the Board as Group Finance Director on 1 November 2006.

From 1999 to 2005 David was Finance Director at ScottishPower plc and, until
recently, he was Executive Director, Infrastructure Division, ScottishPower plc.

Previously he was a partner with Price Waterhouse where his clients included
several financial services companies and large plcs.

In 2005, David was appointed to the board of Northern Foods plc as non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee. From 2001-2002 he served as non-executive director of Thus plc. In 2000 he won the Scottish Business Awards Finance Director of the Year and from 2004 to 2005 he served on the Government Employers Pension Task Force. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

Sir Brian Stewart, Chairman of Standard Life plc commented:

'David is an excellent addition to the Board. He brings extensive experience as a finance director with broad skills from working with major UK listed
companies.'

No other information is required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph LR
9.6.13R of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority in relation to
David's appointment as a director of the Company.

31 October 2006

Enquiries:

Scott White, Press Office 0131 245 5422
Gordon Aitken, Investor Relations, 0131 245 6799

END
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

ReportInvestor

It's good to see Standard Life Investments continuing to put in a very strong performance. This is the way to go for our company to attract new pensions business from both company and local authority pension funds - as well as IFAs.

IA link - Standard Life Investments is "Equity Manager of the Year"

Has your IFA considered them for you? Perhaps you should ask him/her.

Belfastbelle

How do I know what the current price is/link online??
Where can I sell with the least charges?
Should I be waiting on the bonus?
???

ReportInvestor

Hi and welcome to the site .

Here's today's chart on Yahoo - 15 minutes delayed

If you haven't got a share certificate then you have to sell through Computershare. The best way to do this is online and they will charge 0.5% (as opposed to 1% for telephone dealing). At least you get to know the price you're selling at.

Have your documents available

Computershare link

Enter
UK

Go to
Shareholder services
Share dealing
Find out more (it's a drop down box at the bottom of the page where you can find Standard Life Plc)
Internet dealing

Should you sell or wait? That's a harder question . But you've identified a specific need for cash before December, which might sway your decision.

Read through the thread and ask any questions that arise. What's right for one investor is not right for everyone.

I've personally sold about 60% of my holding so that I am left with a significant stake that I'm happy to run in the market without it costing me too much sleep.