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?

Take your pick!

J P Morgan Cazenove Overweight 354.05 430.00 430.00 Reiterates

Barclays Capital Underweight 354.05 - - Reiterates

Nomura Reduce 354.05 351.00 337.00 Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy 354.05 425.00 425.00 Retains

Approaching last Autumns high "W".

From yesterday :- JP Morgan Cazenove Overweight 369.65 430.00 - Reiterates

Credit Suisse Outperform 382.75 377.10 362.00 425.00 Upgrades

RBC Capital Markets Outperform 383.90 383.90 400.00 450.00 Upgrades

Interim Management Statement

Continued growth in assets and excellent investment performance
· Assets under administration up 1.5% to £247.8bn (31 December 2013: £244.2bn, 31 March 2013: £233.1bn) driven by net inflows of £2.4bn

· Ongoing momentum in fee business with fee revenue up 12% to £374m

· Continued excellent investment performance at Standard Life Investments

· Announced acquisition of Ignis Asset Management enhancing Standard Life Investments' strategic positioning

· Well positioned for changes announced in the UK Budget and other regulatory developments

· Strong balance sheet with an estimated IGD surplus of £3.9bn

Half Yearly Report - Part 1 of 5

Continuing delivery of growth and performance

· Strong operational performance with fee business revenue up 12%1 to £758m

· Assets under administration up 4% to £254.1bn, driven by strong net inflows of £4.6bn

· Business unit underlying performance* up 7% to £367m

· Operating profit2 before tax up 12% to £339m

· Acquisition of Ignis Asset Management enhances strategic positioning, and accelerates growth and returns for shareholders

· Strong balance sheet and cash3 generation up 8% to £250m

· Interim dividend up 7.3% per share to 5.60p

./

Displosal

Standard Life plc ("Standard Life" or the "Group") today announces the sale of its Canadian business, comprising Standard Life's Canadian long-term savings and retirement, individual and group insurance business (Standard Life Financial Inc.) and Canadian investment management business (Standard Life Investments Inc.), to The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company ("MLC"), a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation ("Manulife") for a total cash consideration of C$4.0bn (equivalent to £2.2bn) at closing (the "Sale"). Standard Life's global asset management business, Standard Life Investments, has also entered into a global collaboration agreement with Manulife (the "Global Collaboration Agreement"). Following completion of the transaction, Standard Life expects to return £1.75bn (equivalent to 73p1 per share) of capital to shareholders by way of a B/C share scheme.

The Board intends to complete the return of capital by way of a B/C share scheme to give Standard Life shareholders based in the UK the flexibility to receive their proceeds as income or capital. Following the return of capital, Standard Life intends to carry out a share consolidation.

The Sale is another major step in furthering Standard Life's strategy to build a global investment solutions business, accelerating the growth profile of the Group through: focusing on its market-leading fee-based investment management and savings businesses; reducing Standard Life's exposure to spread/risk income; and advancing Standard Life Investments' global distribution and growth prospects through wider collaboration with Manulife. The Sale, the capital return and Standard Life Investments' strengthened relationship with Manulife are consistent with the Group's simple business model: increasing assets, maximising revenue and lowering unit costs while optimising the balance sheet.

Deutsche Bank Buy 386.10 386.10 428.00 455.00 Reiterates

Berenberg Hold 416.80 370.00 370.00 Reiterates

Panmure Gordon Buy 416.80 420.00 420.00 Reiterates

i've had these poxy shares since the outset and now cannot even remember how may of them i have .... anyway, a nice 73p extra divi will be very welcome

Standard Life reacts to possible Scottish independence

Standard Life's chief executive, David Nish, has written to the Scottish money manager's customers explaining how it will protect their interests in the event of Scots voting for independence.

He says that it could transfer pensions, investments and other long-term savings held by UK customers to new regulated companies set up in England.

Publication of Circular/Notice of General Meeting

Standard Life plc: Publication of Circular and Notice of General Meeting

Further to the announcement made on 4 September 2014, Standard Life plc ("the Company") has today published and sent to all shareholders a circular ("the Circular") in relation to the proposed sale of Standard Life's Canadian business ("the Disposal"). The Circular has been prepared in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and has been approved by the UK Listing Authority.

The Disposal is subject to the approval of shareholders, and, accordingly, the Circular contains a notice convening a General Meeting of the Company which is to be held at 2pm on 3 October 2014 at 155 Bishopsgate, London EC2.

A copy of the Circular and the Notice of General Meeting are available for viewing on the Company's website at www.standardlife.com.


Here is the link to the General Meeting & Circular details

Panmure Gordon Buy 420.25 415.70 420.00 465.00 Reiterates

Deutsche Bank Buy 420.25 415.70 - 455.00 Reiterates

Interim Management Statement

Focus on fee business driving growth
· Assets under administration from continuing operations up to £290.0bn driven by good net inflows of £4.3bn and acquisition of Ignis Asset Management
o In the UK we have added 290,000 new customers through auto enrolment year to date and over 500,000 since auto enrolment began
o UK retail and corporate fee business AUA now over £100bn
o SLI continues to deliver strong investment performance in volatile markets with third party AUM from continuing operations now £158.9bn and integration of Ignis progressing well
· Fee revenue from continuing operations up 13% to £1,032m year to date including acquisitions
· Proposed disposal of Canadian operations1 increases focus on fee business and enables £1.75bn planned return of capital to shareholders
· Strong and resilient balance sheet with an estimated IGD surplus of £3.3bn before the sale of Canadian operations

Chart looks good, as long as markets don't tank tomorrow. May be worth a spread bet. Closed just above 50DMA today, initial target 420.0 stop just below 50DMA. See how it opens in the morn.

420 looks a reasonable target.

Give it a bash in @ 406.62 (Dec) SB tight stop 396.0

Final Results - Part 1 of 8

Increased focus on fee business driving growth and performance
· Assets under administration from continuing operations increased by 38% to £296.6bn, driven by net inflows, positive market movements and the acquisition of Ignis Asset Management:

o SLI continues to deliver strong investment performance in volatile markets with total AUM from continuing operations now £245.9bn
o UK retail and corporate fee business AUA up 7% to £102.8bn
o During the year we have added over 340,000 new customers in the UK through auto enrolment and over 560,000 since auto enrolment began
· Fee based revenue up 14% to £1,433m including benefit of Ignis acquisition in second half of the year

· Group underlying performance* up 21% to £561m and operating profit1 before tax from continuing operations up 19% to £604m

· Sale of Canada increases focus on fee business and enables proposed return of £1.75bn to shareholders

· Strong and resilient balance sheet with IGD surplus of £2.9bn and Group underlying cash generation2 up 21% to £408m

· Final dividend of 11.43p making a total of 17.03p, up 7.8%, for the year


David Nish, Chief Executive, commented:
"Standard Life has continued to perform well driven by a focus on delivering value for money for our customers and clients. We have increased revenues, profits and cash generation and now have assets under administration of almost £300bn.

"We have made good strategic progress during the year with the acquisition of Ignis Asset Management and the sale of our Canadian operations increasing focus on fee business and enabling a £1.75bn return to shareholders. We are also well positioned to deal with the far-reaching reforms to the savings and retirement income rules in the UK and to support customers through these changes. Standard Life Investments has continued to perform strongly and expand internationally.

"Although investment markets are unsettled and may affect the near-term pace of asset and revenue growth, we are very well placed for the future. We have an excellent track record of succeeding in evolving markets and have the products, experience and proven investment performance to help our customers and clients in all of our markets to save and invest, so that they can look forward to their financial futures with confidence."

Wife received a nice divi payment today. Onward and upwards?