Final Results - Part 8 of 8

RNS Number : 6638S

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

13 March 2019

 

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

Full Year Results 2018

Part 8 of 8

11. Glossary

Aberdeen Asset Management or Aberdeen

Aberdeen Asset Management PLC, or Aberdeen Asset Management PLC and its subsidiaries.

Adjusted cash generation

Adjusted cash generation presents a shareholder view of cash generation. The calculation of this measure has been amended following the merger. For the Aberdeen Standard Investments element of the Asset management and platforms segment, adjusted cash generation adjusts IFRS net cash flows from operating activities for restructuring and corporate transaction expenses paid. For the platforms and corporate centre elements of the Asset management and platforms segment, adjusted cash generation removes certain non-cash items from adjusted profit before tax. Adjustments are made for deferred acquisition costs/deferred income reserve and fixed/intangible assets. Adjusted cash generation is stated net of current (cash) tax. IFRS net cash flows from operating activities is not used as the basis for these segments as it includes policyholder cash flows, and does not exclude adjusting items. For the Insurance associates and joint ventures segment, adjusted cash generation reflects dividends received in the period.

Adjusted operating expenses

Adjusted operating expenses is a component of adjusted profit and relates to the day-to-day expenses of managing our business.

Adjusted operating income

Adjusted operating income is a component of adjusted profit and consists of fee based revenue and spread/risk margin.

Adjusted profit

Adjusted profit before tax is the Group's key alternative performance measure. Adjusted profit excludes the impact of the following items:

·  Restructuring costs and corporate transaction expenses. Restructuring includes the impact of major regulatory change.

·  Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets acquired in business combinations and through the purchase of customer contracts

·  Profit or loss arising on the disposal of a subsidiary, joint venture or associate

·  Fair value movements in contingent consideration

·  Items which are one-off and, due to their size or nature, are not indicative of the long-term operating performance of the Group

Adjusted profit also excludes impacts arising from short-term fluctuations in investment return variances (formerly called short-term fluctuations in investment return) and economic assumption changes in the Group's insurance entities. It is calculated based on expected returns on investments backing equity holder funds, with consistent allowance for the corresponding expected movements in equity holder liabilities. Impacts arising from the difference between the expected return and actual return on investments, and the corresponding impact on equity holder liabilities except where they are directly related to a significant management action, are excluded from adjusted profit and are presented within profit before tax. The impact of certain changes in economic assumptions is also excluded from adjusted profit and is presented within profit before tax.

Coupons payable on perpetual notes classified as non-controlling interests for which interest is accrued are included in adjusted profit before tax. For IFRS purposes, these are recognised directly in equity. This gave rise to an adjusting item in 2017, prior to the reclassification of such instruments to subordinated liabilities on 18 December 2017. Dividends payable on preference shares classified as non-controlling interests are excluded from adjusted profit in line with the treatment of ordinary shares. Similarly to preference shares, our share of interest payable on Tier 1 debt instruments held by associates, which are only accounted for when paid (as if interest is not paid it is cancelled), is excluded from adjusted profit.

Assets under management and administration (AUMA)

AUMA is a measure of the total assets we manage or administer on behalf of our clients and customers. It includes assets under management (AUM) and assets under administration (AUA). AUMA does not include AUM/AUA for associates and joint ventures and is also only presented on a continuing operations basis.

AUM is a measure of the total assets that Aberdeen Standard Investments manages on behalf of individual customers and institutional clients. AUM also includes assets managed for corporate purposes.

AUA is a measure of the total assets we administer for customers through our Platforms.

Board

The Board of Directors of the Company.

Capital management

Capital management is a component of adjusted profit and relates to the return from the net assets of the shareholder business, net of costs of financing. This includes the net assets in defined benefit staff pension plans and net assets relating to the financing of subordinated liabilities.

Chief Operating Decision Maker

The executive committee.

Company

Standard Life Aberdeen plc. Prior to the merger, Standard Life plc.

Cost/income ratio

This is an efficiency measure that is calculated as adjusted operating expenses divided by adjusted operating income, and includes the share of associates' and joint ventures' profit before tax.

CRD IV

CRD IV is the European regulatory capital regime (comprising the Capital Requirements Directive and Capital Requirements Regulation) that applies to investment firms. Following the sale of the UK and European insurance business to Phoenix, the Group is supervised under the CRD IV regulatory regime for group prudential supervisory purposes. Previously, SLA was regulated as an insurance group subject to Solvency II.

Director

A Director of the Company.

Earnings per share (EPS)

EPS is a commonly used financial metric which can be used to measure the profitability and strength of a company over time. EPS is calculated by dividing profit by the number of ordinary shares. Basic EPS uses the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS adjusts the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares, such as share options awarded to employees.

Effective tax rate

Tax expense/(credit) attributable to equity holders' profit divided by profit before tax attributable to equity holders' profits expressed as a percentage.

Elevate

Elevate adviser platform acquired through the purchase of the entire share capital of AXA Portfolio Services Limited, subsequently renamed Elevate Portfolio Services Limited.

Executive committee

Responsible for supporting the Co-Chief Executives in the day-to-day running of the business and comprises: Co-Chief Executives and the functional/regional leaders for UK, Finance, Distribution, Americas, EMEA, Asia Pacific, People and Investment Management.

Fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL)

FVTPL is an IFRS measurement basis permitted for assets and liabilities which meet certain criteria. Gains or losses on assets or liabilities measured at FVTPL are recognised directly in the income statement.

FCA

Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom.

Fee based business/revenue

Fee based business is a component of adjusted profit and includes products where we generate revenue primarily from asset management charges (AMCs), premium based charges and transactional charges. AMCs are earned on products such as SIPP, corporate pensions and mutual funds, and are calculated as a percentage fee based on the assets held. Investment risk on these products rests principally with the customer, with our major indirect exposure to rising or falling markets coming from higher or lower AMCs. Fee based revenue is shown net of fees, commissions and similar charges (e.g. rebates and initial charges).

Fee revenue yield (bps)

The average revenue yield on fee based business is a measure that illustrates the average margin being earned on the assets that we manage or administer. It is calculated as annualised fee based revenue (excluding performance fees, SL Asia, 1825, Focus and Threesixty) divided by monthly average fee based assets under management/administration.

Forward looking statements

This document may contain certain 'forward-looking statements' with respect to the financial condition, performance, results, strategy, objectives, plans, goals and expectations of the Company and its affiliates. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of management about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For example, statements containing words such as 'may', 'will', 'should', 'could', 'continue', 'aims', 'estimates', 'projects', 'believes', 'intends', 'expects', 'hopes', 'plans', 'pursues', 'seeks', 'targets' and 'anticipates', and words of similar meaning, may be forward-looking. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, future developments and other factors it believes appropriate. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they are based on information available at the time they are made, including current expectations and assumptions, and relate to future events and depend on circumstances which may be or are beyond the Company's control, including among other things: UK domestic and global political, economic and business conditions (such as the UK's exit from the EU); market related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, and the performance of financial markets generally; the impact of inflation and deflation; the impact of competition; the timing, impact and other uncertainties associated with future acquisitions, disposals or combinations undertaken by the Company or its affiliates and/or within relevant industries; the value of and earnings from Standard Life Aberdeen's strategic investments and ongoing commercial relationships; default by counterparties; information technology or data security breaches; natural or man-made catastrophic events; the failure to attract or retain necessary key personnel; the policies and actions of regulatory authorities; and the impact of changes in capital, solvency or accounting standards, and tax and other legislation and regulations (including changes to the regulatory capital requirements that the Company is subject to) in the jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate. As a result, the Company's actual future financial condition, performance and results may differ materially from the plans, goals, objectives and expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements. Persons receiving this document should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor its affiliates assume any obligation to update or correct any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document or any other forward-looking statements it or they may make (whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as required by law. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of the Company and its affiliates in this document may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of, the Company's or its affiliates' future results.

Global absolute return strategies (GARS)

A discretionary multi-asset fund provided under several regulated pooled and segregated structures globally by Aberdeen Standard Investments. The investment objective is to target a level of return over a rolling three-year period equivalent to cash plus 5% a year (gross of fees), and to do so with as little risk as possible.

Group, Standard Life Aberdeen Group or Standard Life Aberdeen

Relates to the Company and its subsidiaries following the completion of the merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen Asset Management PLC on 14 August 2017.

ICAAP

Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process. The ICAAP is the means by which the Group assesses the level of capital that adequately supports all of the relevant current and future risks in its business.

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

International Financial Reporting Standards are accounting standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The Group's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as endorsed by the EU. All EU-listed companies are required to prepare consolidated financial statements using IFRS issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) as endorsed by the EU. The IFRS financial results in the Strategic report and in the Group financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the IFRS accounting policies as disclosed in the Group financial statements section of this report.

Investment performance

Investment performance has been aggregated using a money weighted average of our assets under management which are outperforming their respective benchmarks on a gross of fees basis. Benchmarks differ by fund and are defined in each fund's Investment Management Agreement (for example, the benchmark for our GARS unit trust fund is six-month GBP LIBOR). For total AUM, the investment performance calculation covers 81% of Aberdeen Standard Investments AUM, with certain assets excluded such as non-discretionary portfolios e.g. full replication tracker funds or funds where no applicable index is available such as Aberdeen Standard Capital funds.

Key performance indicators (KPI)

A measure by reference to which the development, performance or position of the business can be measured effectively.

Net flows

Net flows represent gross inflows less gross outflows or redemptions. Gross inflows are new funds from clients and customers. Gross outflows or redemptions is the money withdrawn by clients or customers during the period.

Phoenix or Phoenix Group

Phoenix Group Holdings plc or Phoenix Group Holdings plc and its subsidiaries.

Pillar 1

Under CRD IV, Pillar 1 focuses on fixed overhead requirements and the Group's exposure to credit and market risks in respect of risk-weighted assets, and sets a minimum requirement for capital based on these measures.

Pillar 2

The requirement for companies to assess the level of additional capital held against risks not covered in Pillar 1.

Pillar 3

This complements Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 with the aim of improving market discipline by requiring companies to publish certain details of their risks, capital and risk management. The Group's Pillar 3 disclosures will be published on the Group's website at www.standardlifeaberdeen.com/annualreport before 31 December 2019.

Platform

An investment platform (e.g. Wrap or Elevate) which is essentially a trading platform enabling investment funds, pensions, direct equity holdings and some life assurance contracts to be held in the same administrative account rather than as separate holdings.

Pro forma basis

The merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen completed on 14 August 2017, with the merger accounted for as an acquisition of Aberdeen by Standard Life plc on that date. Pro forma results for the Group are prepared as if Standard Life Group and Aberdeen had always been merged and are included for comparative periods to assist in explaining trends in financial performance by showing a full 12 months performance for the combined Group for all years.

Reported basis

The merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen completed on 14 August 2017, with the merger accounted for as an acquisition of Aberdeen by Standard Life plc on that date. The financial statements for 2017 have been prepared on this basis, with Aberdeen results included only from the date of merger onwards. This is referred to as the Reported basis.

Retail

Our UK Retail business offers a range of leading asset administration and financial planning services to advised and non-advised customers through our retail Platforms (Wrap, Elevate and Fundzone) and our 1825 financial advice business.

SLAL

Standard Life Assurance Limited.

Solvency II

Solvency II is the European regulatory capital regime that applies to insurance firms.

Spread/risk business

Spread/risk business relates to our discontinued UK and European insurance business and mainly comprises products where we provide a guaranteed level of income for our customers in return for an investment, for example, annuities. The 'spread' referred to in the title primarily relates to the difference between the guaranteed amount we pay to customers and the actual return on the assets over the period of the contract.

Spread/risk margin

Spread/risk margin is a component of adjusted profit and reflects the margin earned on spread/risk business. This includes net earned premiums, claims and benefits paid, net investment return using long-term assumptions and reserving changes. Spread/risk margin excludes the impact of economic assumption changes, which are not included in determining adjusted profit.

Standard Life

Following completion of the sale of our UK and European insurance business to Phoenix in August 2018, we have retained ownership of the Standard Life brand while also licensing it to Phoenix. The Standard Life brand will continue to be a prominent feature of our retail platforms.

Standard Life Group

Prior to demutualisation on 10 July 2006, The Standard Life Assurance Company 2006 and its subsidiaries and, from demutualisation on 10 July 2006 to 13 August 2017, Standard Life plc and its subsidiaries.

Strategic insurance partners

A measure of the assets managed on behalf of a number of strategic partners such as Lloyds Banking Group and Phoenix.

Subordinated liabilities

Subordinated liabilities are debts of a company which, in the event of liquidation, rank below its other debts but above share capital.

Underpin

In relation to remuneration, refers to a further performance condition that is required to be met in addition to the performance targets when determining the vesting of an award.

Registered office

1 George Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2LL

Scotland

Company registration number: SC286832

For shareholder services call:

0345 113 0045*

*Calls may be monitored and/or recorded to protect both you and us and help with our training. Call charges will vary.

Secretary

Kenneth A Gilmour

Registrar

Link Market Services Limited (Link)

Auditors

KPMG LLP

Solicitors

Slaughter and May

Brokers

JP Morgan Cazenove

Goldman Sachs

Cenkos Securities

Shareholder services

We offer a wide range of shareholder services. For more information, please:

·  Contact our registrar, Link, who manage this service for us. Their details can be found on the inside back cover.

·  Visit our share portal at www.standardlifeaberdeenshares.com

Sign up for Ecommunications

Signing up means:

·  You'll receive an email when documents like the Annual report and accounts, Half year results and AGM guide are available on our website

·  Voting instructions for the Annual General Meeting will be sent to you electronically

Set up a share portal account

Having a share portal account means you can:

·  Manage your account at a time that suits you

·  Download your documents when you need them

Preventing unsolicited mail

By law, the Company has to make certain details from its share register publicly available. Because of this, it is possible that some registered shareholders could receive unsolicited mail or phone calls. You could also be targeted by fraudulent 'investment specialists'. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You can find more information about share scams at the Financial Conduct Authority website www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams

If you are a certificated shareholder, your name and address may appear on a public register. Using a nominee company to hold your shares can help protect your privacy. You can transfer your shares into the Company-sponsored nominee - the Standard Life Aberdeen Share Account - by contacting Link, or you could get in touch with your broker to find out about their nominee services.

If you want to limit the amount of unsolicited mail you receive generally, please visit www.mpsonline.org.uk

Financial calendar

Full year results 2018	13 March
Ex-dividend date for 2018 final dividend	11 April
Record date for 2018 final dividend	12 April
Last date for DRIP elections for 2018 final dividend	01 May
Annual General Meeting - Edinburgh	14 May
Dividend payment date for 2018 final dividend	21 May
Half year results 2019	07 August
Ex-dividend date for 2019 interim dividend	15 August
Record date for 2019 interim dividend	16 August
Last date for DRIP elections for 2019 interim dividend	04 September
Dividend payment date for 2019 interim dividend	24 September

Analysis of registered shareholdings at 31 December 2018

Range of shares	Number of holders	% of total holders	Number of shares	% of total shares
1-1,000	66,632	65.85	27,314,687	1.08
1,001-5,000	29,943	29.59	60,755,578	2.40
5,001-10,000	2,464	2.44	16,390,222	0.65
10,001-100,000	1,556	1.54	38,520,767	1.52
#100,001+	586	0.58	2,386,430,970	94.35
Total	101,181	100	2,529,412,224	100

#              These figures include the Company-sponsored nominee - the Standard Life Aberdeen Share Account - which had 1,022,001 participants holding 648,081,141 shares.

 

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