Standard Life’s Aberdeen Bid Marks Push Against Passive `Bogey’

Standard Life Plc’s bid to take over Aberdeen Asset Management Plc is the latest defensive move by active asset managers grappling with fee pressure from cheaper passive funds that often outperform them. The merger of Scotland’s two biggest money managers follows France’s Amundi SA agreement to buy Pioneer Investments from Italy’s UniCredit SpA in December as companies seek extra scale to boost returns.

Standard Life Eyes Aberdeen to Create $811 Billion Manager

Standard Life Plc, Scotland’s largest insurer, is in talks to acquire Aberdeen Asset Management Plc, creating one of Europe’s biggest fund managers overseeing 660 billion pounds . Under the terms of the potential deal, Standard Life shareholders would own 66.7 percent of the combined group, according to a joint statement on Saturday.

Standard Life, Aberdeen Said to Hold Merger Talks, Sky Reports

Standard Life Plc and Aberdeen Asset Management Plc, two of the U.K.’s largest fund managers, have been holding talks about an 11 billion-pound merger that would create one of the world’s biggest asset managers, Sky News reported on its website, without saying how it obtained the information. The merged company would manage more than 600 billion pounds and employ more than 9,000 people, with a possible annual cost savings of 200 million pounds, Sky said.

Standard Life, Aberdeen Said to Hold Merger Talks, Sky Reports

Standard Life Plc and Aberdeen Asset Management Plc, two of the U.K.’s largest fund managers, have been holding talks about an 11 billion-pound merger that would create one of the world’s biggest asset managers, Sky News reported on its website, without saying how it obtained the information. The merged company would manage more than 600 billion pounds and employ more than 9,000 people, with a possible annual cost savings of 200 million pounds, Sky said.