Acquisition

Standard Chartered PLC
27 August 2004

Press Release

Standard Chartered PLC - Completion of Acquisition

On 28 June 2004, Standard Chartered PLC announced that its 100 per cent owned
subsidiary Standard Chartered Links (HK) Limited, had signed an agreement to
acquire Advantage Limited, the parent of PrimeCredit Limited, allowing Standard
Chartered to enter the growing consumer finance business in Hong Kong.

Standard Chartered PLC announced today that the acquisition of Advantage Limited
and PrimeCredit Limited has been completed.


NOTES TO EDITORS:

Standard Chartered PLC - Leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Standard Chartered employs 30,000 people in over 500 locations in more than 50 
countries in the Asia Pacific Region, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the
United Kingdom and the Americas. It is one of the world's most international
banks, with a management team comprising 70 nationalities.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Stock 
Exchange of Hong Kong and is in the top 25 FTSE-100 companies, by market 
capitalisation.

It serves both Consumer and Wholesale Banking customers. Consumer Banking
provides credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, deposit taking and wealth
management services to individuals and small to medium sized enterprises.
Wholesale Banking provides corporate and institutional clients with services in 
trade finance, cash management, lending, custody, foreign exchange, debt capital 
markets and corporate finance.

Standard Chartered is well-established in growth markets and aims to be the
right partner for its customers. The Bank combines deep local knowledge with
global capability.

The Bank is trusted across its network for its standard of governance and its
commitment to making a difference in the communities in which it operates.

For further information, please contact:

Paul Marriage, Head of Corporate Communications, or Caoimhe Buckley, Media
Relations Manager
[phone]/6170

[e-mail]
Ben Hung
Head of Investor Relations
[phone]

[e-mail]
Lavina Chan
Senior Corporate Affairs Manager
[phone]

[e-mail]
Betty Ku
Head of Investor Relations, Asia Pacific
[phone]

[e-mail]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange