Stan Life AGM outside of Scotland for first time

Standard Life Aberdeen CEO Keith Skeoch

Edinburgh-based investment, pensions and insurance group Standard Life is to hold its annual general meeting outside of Scotland for the first time in its history.

This year’s Standard Life AGM will be held at 200 Aldersgate, London, on May 17 —  and not at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

A Standard Life spokesman said: “We are going to alternate it between London and Edinburgh.

“We have 1.2 million retail shareholders, largely as a result of demutualisation, and in 2014 we held a general meeting in London on the sale of our Canadian business, which was very positive in terms of people being able to attend.

“Now we are alternating it to give access to more shareholders.”

Last month, Standard Life said its operating profit before tax rose 9% to £665 million in 2015 — beating analysts’ forecasts of £616 million — as the group continued to expand its global reach.

Group assets under administration increased by 4% to £307.4 billion in volatile markets, benefiting from strong net inflows of £6.3 billion.

Assets under management increased to £253.2 billion from £245.9 billion in 2014.

About 67% of Standard Life’s net inflows came from outside the UK.