Standard Life Shares

baby_boomer

Standard dipped at the close yesterday, but is back up to 334p on the of a strong FSTE100 .

I can't find a link but I think yesterday's strength was down to a positive broker comment which suggested a possible £4+ in a bid situation. If you find this comment, please post a link to confirm.

To think that £3 was a distant pipe dream, only even vaguely contemplated by one broker, when the shares floated.

No-one would have hung on to date by listening to the press or the brokers, that's for sure.

Reading back in the thread, it seems that some people have set more store by the actions of fund managers and directors in the know.

Perhaps there's a wider lesson here.

DocProc

SL released the following news which does remove some uncertainty:

Standard Life Bank has appointed Kent Atkinson as chairman, replacing Sir Brian Stewart, who is retiring at the end of the month.

Mr Atkinson has been on the board of the Standard Life Assurance Company as a non-executive director since 2005.

He said: “I look forward to helping the Bank capitalise on the Standard Life franchise and brand, building on the improvement in its financial performance and profitability.”

Sir Brian is also stepping down as chairman of Standard Life plc, to be replaced by deputy chairman, Gerry Grimstone.

Also

The top five causes for claims during 2006 were cancer, heart attack, multiple sclerosis, stroke and benign brain tumour.

On 1st May 2007, Standard Life reported a reduction in declined claims for 2006 with 7.5% of claims unpaid compared with 18% in 2005.

A total of 360 claims worth £18.7 million were paid with the average claim being £52,138.

Of the rejected claims, 4.2% were declined due to non-disclosure of medical history and 3.3% due to customers attempting to claim for a condition not covered by their policy.

Mick James, protection marketing manager for Standard Life Assurance, said: ‘There is often a stigma associated with critical illness plans that they don’t pay out, yet we paid over 90% of our customer claims last year.’

But he added: ‘While there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of declined claims in 2006, it is too early to say whether this is a trend.

Standard Life reported a reduction in declined claims for 2006 with 7.5% of claims unpaid compared with 18% in 2005.

A total of 360 claims worth £18.7 million were paid with the average claim being £52,138.

Of the rejected claims, 4.2% were declined due to non-disclosure of medical history and 3.3% due to customers attempting to claim for a condition not covered by their policy.

Mick James, protection marketing manager for Standard Life Assurance, said: ‘There is often a stigma associated with critical illness plans that they don’t pay out, yet we paid over 90% of our customer claims last year.’

But he added: ‘While there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of declined claims in 2006, it is too early to say whether this is a trend.

(Claims down = Profits up)

baby_boomer

Up another couple today to 336p.

Another new closing high.

Yorkshireman_3

baby_boomer wrote: »

Up another couple today to 336p.

Another new closing high.

Just to let all know im still here -- still holding --- R I -- they still underpriced i recon :d still the optomist If they do drop after issue of free shares and dividends etc (which i doubt) id be tempted to buy more i think £4.00 plus is alot nearer the value of this company shares Who agrees??

mad

Good to know so many of us still in. I think the price will continue to rise and the last broker report i could find suggests that:

ING has reiterated buy Standard Life (LSE: SL.L - news) (raising the price target to 360p from 330p)

Some of the other freebie shares over the last few years are will above were they started

i am haniging on in there atleast until the 5% extra and then I am going to review. I suppose the only cautionary note would be that in general shares have been going up and we are now approaching the time when some say 'Go away in May and come back in September' but yer can't do that if you want your 5%

gt94sss2

• Worldwide life and pensions sales up 40% to £3,915m (2006: £2,802m).
• UK life and pensions sales up 52% to £3,220m (2006: £2,119m).
- Individual SIPP* sales up 117% to £1,233m (2006: £569m).
- Group Pensions sales up 40% to £582m (2006: £415m).

• Standard Life Investments third party funds under management up 10% to £42.4bn (31 December 2006: £38.5bn).

- UK Segregated Fund net inflows up 195% to £772m (2006: £262m).
- UK Mutual Fund retail net inflows up 76% to £587m (2006: £333m).

Group Chief Executive Sandy Crombie said:

'I am delighted we have started 2007 so strongly following the excellent new business performance throughout 2006. The strong momentum in life and pensions sales has continued in the first quarter of the year and our third party funds under management have increased by 10%.

'Growth is being driven by strong sales of life and pensions business in the UK with our strategy to focus on the accumulation of customers' assets.

'With our innovative range of products, excellent investment track record and first class service, strong sales momentum is continuing into the second quarter and is supporting the delivery of the 2007 return on embedded value target. We continue to capitalise on the considerable opportunities available to our businesses.'

More from the official announcement and press comment

Regards
Sunil

baby_boomer

"Lost" investor finally claims his/her £150,000 of Standard Lifeshares :eek: .

"Worryingly for Standard Life, only 8000 members have claimed their shares since the company last put an appeal out in January, although the largest unclaimed windfall at that point - 45,136 shares – has since been collected.

The largest current outstanding windfall belongs to a member in Derby, who is owed £116,123 from 36,923. Second is somebody in Glasgow who is owed £115,151 and third is an individual also from Derby who is owed £109,424. There are a further two uncollected pots of cash worth around £71,500.

In addition, there are 20,000 former members who still haven't come forward to receive cash entitlements, totalling £18m."

Is there something in the Derby water we should know about ?

Gorgeous_George

Might be worth moving to Derby and changing your name to John Smith?



GG

baby_boomer

The Independent on suggests taking pofits

It's been a great run, and the management has transformed the company but....

"With the effects of the pension regulation changes now fading, the next few years are likely to prove tougher. And after such a strong run in the share price, it is now hard to make the case for any further short-term upgrades in the stock."

gt94sss2

Does anyone have any thoughts on whether its worth taking up Standard Life's DRIP dividend scheme?

As far as I can see, the only cost is the stamp duty and that if you withdraw from the scheme, you won't get a refund if your uninvested dividends are less than £3..

Regards
Sunil