Investment solutions and distribution partnership

RNS Number : 9203N

Standard Life plc

04 October 2012

 



Standard Life announces major investment solutions and distribution partnership with RBS

Standard Life group has today announced a five-year platform distribution deal with RBS.  Under the agreement, Standard Life will deliver an innovative range of RDR compliant investment solutions. These will be made available via the Standard Life wrap platform to RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank customers.

The multi-channel investment platform will support RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank to deliver investment solutions to their customers through advisers, as well as a non-advisory direct to consumer online capability.

This functionality will be accessible to RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank in-branch advisers from December 2012, while the non-advisory service will launch during 2013.  A range of RDR-ready investment products including ISAs, SIPPs, onshore and offshore bonds, will be available to RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank customers.

The deal delivers a complete, end to end service functionality, integrating the unique strengths of Focus Solutions and the Standard Life Wrap platform with the proven investment management expertise of Standard Life Investments. Customers will be able to invest in RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank investment funds using Standard Life tax wrappers with assets being managed by Standard Life Investments. 

Paul Matthews, Chief Executive, UK and Europe, Standard Life said: "We are very pleased that RBS has chosen to partner with Standard Life to deliver RDR-ready financial solutions for its customers.  This innovative partnership, for the first time, brings together Focus Solutions technology, Standard Life Wrap, and the investment expertise of Standard Life Investments.

"This agreement further enables us to capture assets across the value chain, developing innovative investment solutions for customers which are easily accessible via our platform.  Our continued focus on customer needs and the benefit derived from our scalable business model will allow us to continue delivering value for our shareholders."

Les Matheson, Managing Director, Products & Marketing, RBS UK Retail said:

"It's important for us at RBS to help our customers plan for a financially secure future. So I'm pleased we're announcing today that Standard Life will be a key component of our financial planning offering going forward. With Standard Life's proven capability in platforms and investment management we're well placed to help our customers with their financial planning."

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Standard Life contact details:

Institutional Equity Investors
Lorraine Rees	0207 872 4124/07738 300 878
Jakub Rosochowski	0131 245 8028/07515 298 608
Craig Cameron	0131 245 3848/07515 298 330
Media
Nicola McGowan	0131 245 4016/07872 191 341
Barry Cameron	0131 245 6165/07712 486 463

Notes to editors

About Standard Life

Standard Life is a leading provider of long term savings and investments to around 6 million customers worldwide.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Standard Life has around 9,000 employees internationally. 

The Standard Life group includes savings and investments businesses, which operate across its UK, Canadian and European markets; corporate pensions and benefits businesses in the UK and Canada; Standard Life Investments, a global investment manager, and its Chinese and Indian Joint Venture businesses.  At the end of June 2012 the Group had total assets under administration of over £206bn.

The Standard Life Wrap Platform is one of the largest in the UK, offering advisers and their clients wealth management services coupled with a full suite of tax-wrappers and complemented by an open architecture fund supermarket offering.

Standard Life's Wrap Platform was launched in May 2006 and since then has steadily grown its assets under administration, number of customers, and adviser firm users. As at June 2012, the platform had over £10bn of assets, over 1,000 adviser firms and 90,000 individual customers.

About Focus Solutions

Focus Solutions is a leading provider of software and consultancy solutions to the global financial services industry. It enables clients to automate the delivery of financial products and services to their customers across multiple distribution channels in a rapid and efficient manner.

These capabilities are delivered to organisations at the forefront of the financial services industry including IFAs, bancassurers, wealth managers, product providers and mortgage lenders, and across a range of products such as investments, pensions, protection, mortgages, and general insurance.

About Standard Life Investments

With assets under management of £157.6bn (30/06/12), Standard Life Investments (SLI) is one of Europe's major investment houses.

As a forward thinking investment manager, SLI has developed capabilities across a range of asset classes to meet the varied needs, preferences and goals of its clients.  By constantly thinking ahead and striving to anticipate change before it happens, Standard Life Investments provides clients with strategies that are relevant in today's markets.

Standard Life Investments demonstrates impressive credentials in equities, fixed income, commercial real estate and private equity. They also provide innovative investment solutions, such as high-quality multi asset and liability-driven products, as well as absolute return funds. The investment process doesn't end with the purchase of assets. Standard Life Investments continually monitors portfolios to ensure they are meeting their objectives within the defined risk parameters.  They therefore have a dedicated risk management team who measure and monitor risk. In addition, their asset managers play an active role in active managing risk within clients' funds.

About RBS

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group is an international banking and financial services company. The RBS Group provides a wide range of products and services to personal, commercial, large corporate and institutional customers.  Our commitment to Helpful Banking means we offer a full range of financial services to meet the needs of our customers.  Personal Banking customers can choose how they manage their finances through access to our branches, online banking, fixed and mobile technology and one of the largest ATM networks in the UK.

 

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