To get the thread rolling on this stock - of those people who had windfalls, or ahve invested in the stock at flotation or since - it would be interesting to know what your thoughts are.

For those that were and are eligible for the 5% discount this time next year (+ the dividends beforehand), are you planning to sell at this level or hold. Are others buying at this price?

My own money is that the 5% share top up next year together with a divi of perhaps 4% (on flotation price) makes these shares a hold - and if enough other shareholders feel the same it is likely that there will not be much stock for others to purchase and the price will hopefully rise further. But what are the thoughts of others?

got mine too...

What a difference a week makes you could buy these for around the 3 mark last week. Uncertainty surrounding a possible bid for Resolution removed and good figures are spurring them on, long may it continue.
2517

back to below where they started from its a good job they were free,

Hard though it is, these are the times to buy/top up, the problem is no one knows where the bottom is, but markets over re-act on the downside as well as the upside, imo in 1-2 years this will turn out to have been an excellent time to buy, not just SL. but many other top quality co's. Not to mention the high yields.
2517

Amazing what a difference those 1 - 2 years make 2517 George! Not so sure then was an excellent time to buy - although I did, but now is a MUCH better time to buy and I'm in for the long term

Crikey nearly 2 years since my last mention here, you are right it wasn't an excellent time to buy, they were about 250p ish at the time having come down from around 350p. I still hold mine getting the decent divi and one I shall just keep. Annette with a user name of Dartmoor I knew you had to be in a similar area as myself, good luck with your investments.
2517

If these stay as low as they have been they will become a target themselves....Zurich or somebody ??? I have kept topping up with these even when they went down to 1.18p as am fully confident in their value and money making capability, but then other insurers see the same thing and it won`t be long before a 5 billion bid comes in unless they get their act back together

That would be nice...

a step in the right direction already probably worth 25p per share in cash injection value plus ongoing business interest, which will increase over time quite substantially methinks definitely a hold or even a top up opportunity but will wait a week or two to see how SP develops

my thoughts from September may shortly be coming true, as I understand there are a couple of attentive suitors in the wings and the next couple of weeks should be interesting not sure whether it`s a fill your boots time or just hold on to what you have but I would have thought an offer would be at a 40-50p premium to current price ??

Ex dividend tomorrow - yield 5.96%.

yield is the only decent thing about this crap stock - have held since floatation

Been fine for me - I bought earlier in the year and again last week.

Interim Management Statement.

Robust performance in difficult market conditions

Group assets under administration (AUA) of 191.1bn (31 December 2010: 196.8bn, 30 June 2011: 200.0bn) have remained resilient reflecting the Group's diversified AUA mix

Standard Life Investments third party assets under management (AUM) of 69.1bn
(31 December 2010: 67.7bn1, 30 June 2011: 71.6bn)

Long-term savings new business sales up 10% to 15.5bn (2010: 14.0bn) after broadly maintained sales in the quarter

Long-term savings net inflows excluding conventional with profits up 5% to 4.4bn2 (2010: 4.2bn2)

Standard Life Investments third party net inflows of 3.5bn1 (2010: 4.9bn1), representing an annualised 7%1 of opening AUM, with average revenue basis points increased to 37bps (2010: 35bps)

Preliminary results 13th March - Ex dividend 21st March.

Final Results - Part 1 of 5

Part 1 of 5

Increased operating profits and cash flow delivered in challenging market conditions

Continuing growth in assets and strong net flows

-- Long-term savings new business sales up 7% to GBP19.7bn (2010: GBP18.5bn)
-- Long-term savings net inflows of GBP4.0bn(1) (2010: GBP4.7bn(1) )
-- Standard Life Investments third party net inflows of GBP4.3bn(1,2) (2010: GBP5.7bn(1,2) ) and third party assets under management (AUM) of GBP71.8bn (2010: GBP67.7bn(2) )

-- Group assets under administration of GBP198.4bn (2010: GBP192.9bn(2) )
Operating profit(3) increased by 28%

-- Including fee based revenue up 8% to GBP1,223m (2010: GBP1,131m)
-- Lower unit costs with acquisition expenses of 140bps (2010: 149bps) and maintenance expenses of 41bps (2010: 42bps)

-- Operating profit before tax from continuing operations up 28% to GBP544m (2010: GBP425m)
-- IFRS profit after tax attributable to equity holders of GBP298m (2010: GBP432m) lower largely due to year end financial market levels

Capital and cash generation increased by 53%, dividend up 6.2% and strong capital position

-- EEV operating capital and cash generation 53% higher at GBP438m (2010: GBP287m)
-- Final dividend up 6.4% to 9.20p, resulting in total dividend for 2011 up 6.2% to 13.80p
-- IGD surplus of GBP3.1bn (2010: GBP3.8bn) following successful tender for EUR687m of lower tier two subordinated liabilities

Delivering for our customers

-- Now over 1,000 adviser firms on Wrap with platform assets reaching GBP11.4bn
-- Continued growth of MyFolio with assets now exceeding GBP1.0bn and launch of suite of income funds

-- HDFC Asset Management Company is the largest mutual fund company in India with AUM of GBP9.8bn

Turned out nice again!

Nothing standard about that! Nice rise is divi.

Hmm!! I thought I would hold the freebees and reinvest the divi each year to offset the shortfall in my endowment.Seems like it was a good move, one of the few I have made!!

Indeed, a good idea bb!