If you were a policyholder with Standard Life before 2006, you likely received “windfall shares” when the company floated on the stock market.
However, if you search for “Standard Life shares” today, you might be confused. The company name has changed, the insurance arm was sold, and your shares might now be under a completely different brand.
The Great Split: What Happened? The history of your shareholding likely follows this path:
- 2006: Standard Life demutualises. You receive “Standard Life plc” shares.
- 2017: They merge with Aberdeen Asset Management to become Standard Life Aberdeen.
- 2021: The company sells the “Standard Life” brand name to the Phoenix Group.
- 2021: The remaining company (which you own shares in) rebrands to abrdn plc.
The Result: If you hold an old Standard Life share certificate, it is now effectively an ownership stake in abrdn plc. You do not own shares in the insurance company (Phoenix) unless you bought them separately.
Who is the Registrar? The share register for abrdn plc is managed by Equiniti.
- Portal: Equiniti Shareview
- Action: You must register with Equiniti to check your balance. If you haven’t received a dividend recently, your account may be dormant.
Did You Miss the Share Consolidation? Unlike some windfalls, you cannot simply look at the number of shares on your old certificate. There have been share consolidations (reducing the number of shares you hold but increasing their value).
Warning: Do not try to calculate your wealth by multiplying your old share count by the current abrdn price. You need the up-to-date figure from Equiniti.