News & Blog

Read the latest business news, blogs and thought leadership articles from our members, as well as updates on the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's work in the city.

News & Blog

Standard Life Produces Half Year Results

Posted: 6th August 2015

Focus on fee business driving growth and performance

  •  Fee based revenue, including Ignis, up 17% to £761 m with 95% of income now fee based
  •  Assets under administration1up to £302.lbn (FY 2014: £296.6bn; H1  2014: £223.9bn) in volatile markets, driven by increased demand for our investment solutions and acquisition of Ignis
  • Standard Life Investments meeting the investment needs of customers across the globe:
    – Strong 3rd party net inflows of £5.2bn despite outflow from low revenue margin mandate of £1 .7bn
    – Wholesale and institutional net inflows of £7.lbn of which 70% from outside of the UK
    – Continuing excellent investment periormance with 3rd party AUM above benchmark — 1 year 79%; 3 years 95%; 5 years 97%
  • UK business building momentum and well placed in a changing long-term savings environment:
    – Workplace and retail new fee business net inflows up 23% to £2.9bn, representing annualised 8% of opening AUA
    –  Added 120,000 new customers in the UK through auto enrolment in H1 2015 contributing to 15% increase in regular contributions into workplace pensions
    –  Increased Wrap assets by 11% to £233bn with Wrap net inflows up 17% to £2.1bn
  • Group underlying performance up 9% to £299m and operating profit before tax up 6% to £290m after a £39m reduction in spread/risk margin
  • Group underlying cash generation up 17% to £223m
  • Interim dividend up 7.5% to 6.02p

David Nish, Chief Executive, commented:
“Standard Life has performed well during the firstst half of 2015 driven by a focus on providing value for our customers, clients and shareholders We have increased the assets that we administer on behalf of our customers to £302bn helped by strong demand for our propositions.”

“Standard Life Investments actively manages £250bn of assets across the globe driven by consistently strong investment performance We are continuing to see the benefits of our expanding distribution capabilities and strategic relationships with 7o% of net inflows from outside the UK and strong growth in net inflows through the wholesale channel.”

“Our UK fee based propositions continue to build momentum with regular contributions into our workplace pensions up 15% The strength of these propositions, investment solutions and our market positioning means we have been able to help our customers with the new pensions regulations and continue to support them as saving for their futures becomes increasingly front of mind.”

“It has been an absolute privilege to lead Standard Life for the last six years and to help build our business into the strong global player it is today. I wish Keith and the inspirational people across all of our Group every success for the future. Standard Life is very well positioned to deliver ongoing growth and to help our customers and clients to save and invest, so that they can look forward to their financial futures with confidence.”

To see the full report, please click here

Business Comment

Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on new business developments in the capital.
Read more here