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?

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!

Interim Management Statement

Well positioned for market and regulatory changes

Continuing growth in assets and sustained net flows

· Group assets under administration (AUA) of £206.8bn (31 December 2011: £198.4bn, 31 March 2011: £194.5bn1)

· Standard Life Investments third party assets under management (AUM) of £76.1bn (31 December 2011: £71.8bn, 31 March 2011: £68.4bn1)

· Long-term savings new business sales of £5.0bn (2011: £5.8bn) with the UK performing well

· Long-term savings net inflows of £1.1bn2 (2011: £1.3bn2) including strong flows into institutional pensions driven by demand for our market-leading Global Absolute Return Strategies proposition

· Standard Life Investments third party net inflows of £1.1bn2 (2011: £1.4bn1,2), representing an annualised 6% of opening AUM

Standard Life (Other OTC: SLFPF.PK - news) will round off the life insurance reporting season on Tuesday when it is expected to report a 3pc fall in operating profits to £254m.

The Edinburgh-based insurance group will be looking to convince investors it is well placed to take advantage of proposed changes in the UK pensions and savings market.

Last year, the company pledged to "step up" its performance ahead of the introduction of the auto-enrolement pension scheme and retail distribution review.

Auto (BSE: BSE-AUTO.BO - news) -enrolement will see employees automatically enrolled into their existing employers' pension scheme or into a new system of personal accounts. The group expects to win business as more pension schemes turn to its services.

The retail distribution review will outlaw commission payments to intermediaries. Standard Life already operates on the preferred fee-based model and hopes to gain market share as its rivals alter their payment structures.

Group assets under management are forceast to have grown by 3pc to £204.2bn.

Half Yearly Report part 1 of 5

Delivering value for customers and shareholders

Continuing growth in assets under administration

· Group assets under administration of £204.2bn (FY 2011: £198.4bn)

· Long-term savings new business sales of £10.1bn (H1 2011: £11.2bn)

· Long-term savings net inflows of £1.6bn1 (H1 2011: £2.9bn1)

· Standard Life Investments third party net inflows of £0.6bn1 (H1 2011: £2.9bn1)

Standard Life Investments third party assets under management (AUM) of £74.3bn (FY 2011: £71.8bn) with increasing asset class and geographic reach

Operating profit2 increased by 15%

· Fee based revenue increased to £620m (H1 2011: £611m)

· Lower unit and absolute costs with acquisition expenses of 146bps (FY 2011: 169bps) and maintenance expenses of 43bps (FY 2011: 46bps)

· Operating profit before tax up 15% to £302m (H1 2011: £262m) helped by a significant improvement in UK performance

· IFRS profit after tax attributable to equity holders up 28% to £254m (H1 2011: £199m)

Capital and cash generation up 53%, dividend up 6.5% and strong balance sheet

· EEV operating capital and cash generation 53% higher at £295m (H1 2011: £193m)

· Interim dividend up 6.5% to 4.90p

· IGD surplus of £3.0bn (FY 2011: £3.1bn) remained relatively insensitive to market movements


Delivering for our customers

· Now have 205,000 customers on platforms with £12.8bn in assets under administration

· Continued growth in SIPP, helping to increase assets to £18bn

· MyFolio has attracted assets of £1.5bn since launch in October 2010 and GARS AUM exceeds £17bn

3 year highs at open.

have held these - and forgotten about them - since the launch ..... it's been a crap investment

I bought at 227 - so quite pleased, plus the5% + yield.

the launch price was 240 by the looks oif it, and yes there was indeed a 5% bonus issue after year 1 ..... however, though the yield is pretty good, the capital growth is almost non-existent ...... still, i guess it's better than holding SEO (or whatever they call themselves now) or RR or GOO or PXS or a stack of other total stinkers that have been board faves at one time or another

Ex dividend next Wednesday (22ND)

Take your pick.

Panmure Gordon upgrades to Buy TP 295p

Deutsche Bank retains its Hold TP 250p.

Closed @272 - hoping to buy back lower.

skinny,
are you back into SL yet?
I've been holding since the early 190's so quite happy with my investment.
Not so happy with others but that's life!
TT

Not yet - I'm watching a few more imminent dividend plays atm.

Interim Management Statement

Ready for market and regulatory changes

Continuing growth in assets under administration

-- Group assets under administration of GBP211.9bn (31 December 2011: GBP198.4bn, 30 June 2012: GBP204.2bn)

-- Long-term savings new business sales of GBP14.4bn (2011: GBP15.5bn)
-- Long-term savings net flows of GBP2.5bn(1) (2011: GBP3.4bn(1) )
-- Standard Life Investments third party net inflows of GBP3.2bn(1) (2011: GBP3.4bn(1) )
-- Standard Life Investments third party assets under management (AUM) of GBP78.8bn (31 December 2011: GBP71.8bn, 30 June 2012: GBP74.3bn) with increasing asset class and geographic reach

Strong balance sheet

-- IGD surplus of GBP3.4bn (31 December 2011: GBP3.1bn, 30 June 2012: GBP3.0bn) remains relatively insensitive to market movements

-- IGD surplus includes CAD$400m subordinated debt issue in Canada
Successful transition to auto enrolment and Retail Distribution Review (RDR) readiness

-- Ready for auto enrolment and RDR with adviser charging now live on our Wrap platform
-- Agreement with RBS Group to provide RDR-ready proposition combining platform and risk-based investment solutions

Delivering for our customers

-- MyFolio has attracted assets of GBP1.9bn since launch in October 2010
-- Standard Life Investments launched an Emerging Market Debt Fund, broadening our investment offering

-- Expanded our mutual funds range in Canada with two new fixed income funds and increased market share

-- Asia and Emerging Markets business won 'Best for adviser support/customer service' in the UK offshore and Asia categories at the International Adviser Life Awards, and is now open for business in Singapore

-- HDFC Life increased its share of the private individual market to 17%(2) and was awarded 'Best life insurance provider - private sector' at the India Best Bank and Financial Institution Awards

Standard Life maps strategy for new pensions era after jobs axed

Published on Thursday 22 November 2012 00:00

STANDARD Life, the Edinburgh-based insurance giant, has confirmed plans to cut 139 jobs as it restructures its UK business in preparation for radical reforms in the pensions industry.

The group said it needed to introduce “more streamlined and flexible organisational structures” to meet the twin challenges of the retail distribution review (RDR), which will ban commission payments to financial advisers from next year, and new rules forcing employers to provide pensions for all eligible members of staff.

It emerged last month that sales of Standard Life’s corporate pensions tumbled 38 per cent to £635 million during the third quarter as companies put their plans on hold ahead of the “auto-enrolment” shake-up, but the group insisted it was well-placed to benefit from the changing regulatory landscape.

I held the free issue and reinvested the divi into stock to nullify the disastrous endowment plan held with them. Although my heart says they have scewed me and thousands of others over, my head says they are certainly worth considerering as a place to stash the pittance when it pays out next year.But with much else at this time its a gamble.Who knows what other grubby little banking secrets are waiting to pop out of the hat.