Proposed Secondary Placing in Standard Life plc

Aberdeen Group PLC

07 October 2026

 

7 October 2026

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO, OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

Aberdeen Group plc ("Aberdeen" or the "Company")

Proposed Secondary Placing in Standard Life plc

Aberdeen announces the proposed sale of 52 million ordinary shares (the "Placing Shares") of its shareholding in Standard Life plc ("Standard Life"), representing approximately 5.2% of Standard Life's issued share capital, to institutional investors (the "Placing").

Aberdeen currently owns 104.1 million ordinary shares in Standard Life, representing approximately 10.3% of Standard Life's issued share capital. Following completion of the Placing, Aberdeen will retain 52.1 million ordinary shares, representing approximately 5.2% of Standard Life's issued share capital.

Aberdeen and Standard Life have maintained a longstanding strategic relationship since 2018, which was simplified and extended in February 2021. Following successful completion of the Placing, Aberdeen will continue to be a key partner to Standard Life under existing asset management arrangements and remain one of its largest shareholders.

Aberdeen intends to deploy the proceeds from the Placing in accordance with its disciplined capital allocation policy, which is focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet, investing selectively in the business to support sustainable profitable growth, reducing and optimising debt over time, and delivering sustainable returns to shareholders.

Consistent with these priorities, Aberdeen expects to redeem its £210 million of Additional Tier 1 debt at its first call date in December 2026, as announced with its half year 2026 results.

Aberdeen recognises the importance of its dividend to shareholders and confirms that its dividend policy remains unchanged. The Placing has no impact on Aberdeen's existing 2026 Group targets of Adjusted Operating Profit of at least £300 million and Net Capital Generation of approximately £300 million, and Aberdeen remains confident in their delivery.

Jason Windsor, Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen, commented:

"The transaction announced today is further progress to simplify our group, as we seek to deliver on our ambition to become the UK's leading Wealth and Investments business. We see attractive opportunities to invest in growth and will continue to allocate capital where we believe it can generate the best returns for shareholders, while maintaining a strong balance sheet.

Aberdeen and Standard Life have worked in close partnership for many years, and we look forward to continuing to deliver as a key asset management partner to Standard Life."

The price per Placing Share will be determined through an accelerated book-building process to institutional investors, which will be launched immediately following release of this announcement. The book-building may be closed at any time, and the results of the Placing will be announced the following day before market opens on the London Stock Exchange. The Placing is subject to demand, price and market conditions.

Evercore Partners International LLP is acting as lead financial adviser to Aberdeen in connection with the Placing. Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove ("J.P. Morgan Cazenove"), have been appointed by the Company as Joint Global Coordinators and Bookrunners for the Placing. The Company has agreed to a 90-day lock-up in respect of its residual proprietary shareholding in Standard Life following completion of the Placing (subject to customary carve-outs and waiver by Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan Cazenove).

Standard Life is not a party to the Placing and will not receive any proceeds or shares in connection with the Placing.

Enquiries:
Aberdeen Group plc
Duncan Young (External Communications Director)	[phone]
Duncan Heath (Investor Relations Director)	[phone]

Evercore Partners International LLP	[phone]
Chetan Singh
Lyle Schwartz

Goldman Sachs International	[phone]
Richard Cormack Charlie Lytle

J.P. Morgan Cazenove	[phone]
Ed Squire
Will Holyoak

Important notices:

Inside information

This announcement contains inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 (as it forms part of the domestic law of the United Kingdom by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended)). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for making this announcement on behalf of Aberdeen is Iain Jones.

Other

This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of the Company.

This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, any shares nor any other securities in any jurisdiction. Shares will not be generally made available or marketed to the public in the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction in connection with the Placing.

Overseas jurisdictions

The distribution of this announcement into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law, and, therefore, persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with any such restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

In particular, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered, sold or transferred, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with all applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public offer of any securities in the United States.

Disclaimer

Evercore Partners International LLP ("Evercore"), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Aberdeen and no one else in connection with the matters described in this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Aberdeen for providing the protections afforded to clients of Evercore nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Evercore in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein, any offer or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Evercore by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification of any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with Aberdeen or the matters described in this document. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Evercore and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise have in respect of this announcement, or any statement contained herein.

Goldman Sachs International ("GSI"), which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Placing. Neither GSI nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of GSI or providing advice in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to in this announcement.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc ("JPM"), which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, is acting for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Placing. Neither JPM nor its affiliates, nor their respective partners, directors, officers, employees or agents are responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of JPM or providing advice in relation to the Placing or any other matter referred to in this announcement.

This announcement does not constitute a recommendation to participate in the Placing. The price and value of securities and any income from them can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Acquiring shares may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing all of the amount invested. Potential investors should consult an independent financial advisor as to the suitability of the Placing for the entity or person concerned. The Company reserves the right not to proceed with the Placing or to vary the terms of the Placing in any way.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "intends", "expects", "will", or "may", or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts and include statements regarding intentions, beliefs or current expectations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this announcement will be realised. As a result, no undue reliance should be placed on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual events or otherwise.

LEI number of Aberdeen Group plc: 0TMBS544NMO7GLCE7H90

 

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