Standard Life

Standard Life's decision to put forward the option of demutualisation to its policyholders is being closely watched by Royal London, although the latter maintains the view that its competitor's problems are company specific.

Following the announcement this morning by Standard Life, IFAonline would like to know your views concerning demutualisation of the UK's largest mutual insurer.

Standard Life has just announced it will stage a demutualisation vote in 2006 as the firm believes it IS in the best interests of the company and its policyholders.

Standard Life has just confirmed it is cutting up to 360 jobs from its direct sales force and will cut the number of sales centres to 11 from 21.

STANDARD LIFE IS cutting about 100 Edinburgh-based jobs linked to its direct sales force, even as it pays out big bonuses and awards pay rises to senior executives, writes The Scotsman.

STANDARD LIFE'S members will for the first time be given the chance to decide what the board of directors' remuneration should be, says this morning's Scotsman newspaper.

SESAME, THE IFA NETWORK, has made the national press this morning, after announcing to the Daily Telegraph it would no longer be selling Standard Life with-profits products.

Standard Life has today announced a £7.5bn reduction in the equity holdings of its £31bn with-profits fund as a result of newly-imposed financial reporting requirements.

IFAs may no longer be able to compare the financial performance of companies against previous years and other firms thanks to FSA realistic reporting changes, suggests Standard Life in a report of its 2003 annual results.

Standard Life customers will in future have to pay a cost for policies with guarantees to reflect the increased reserves the company must set aside, according to statements in the 2003 annual results published today.