Standard Chartered PLC — M&A Activity 2008

Dec 15, 2008

Standard Chartered

STANDARD CHARTERED PLC

(渣打集團有限公司)

(Registered in England and Wales number 966425)

(Stock Code: 02888)

(the "Company")

Standard Chartered PLC – Increasing stake in a Company

12 December 2008

Standard Chartered raises stake to 74.9% in Standard Chartered-STCI Capital Markets

Standard Chartered has today completed the acquisition of an additional 25.9 per cent stake in Standard Chartered – STCI Capital Markets Limited ("SC-STCI Capital Markets") (formerly UTI Securities Limited), a leading Indian brokerage house. With this acquisition Standard Chartered's total holding in the company will be 74.9 per cent.

Regulatory approvals have been received for the additional stake and change in the controlling interest in SC-STCI Capital Markets. This move by Standard Chartered to increase its existing stake is in line with its original intent at the time it signed the contract, under which both parties had provided for the stake to be increased in stages to 100 per cent by 2010.

Standard Chartered bought 49 per cent of UTI Securities Limited from Securities Trading Corporation of India Limited ("STCI") in January 2008 following receipt of regulatory approvals.

As at 31 March 2008, SC-STCI Capital Market's total gross assets were USD35.0 million.

The company currently offers its services under a global brand – 'Standard Chartered Wealth Managers'. SC-STCI Capital Markets is an established financial services firm in India offering broking, wealth management and investment banking services with a presence spread across 60 cities in India.

As at the date of this announcement, the Board of Directors of the Company comprises:

Chairman:
Mr Evan Mervyn Davies, CBE

Executive Directors:
Mr Peter Alexander Sands; Mr Stefano Paolo Bertamini; Mr Gareth Richard Bullock and Mr Richard Henry Meddings;

Independent Non-Executive Directors:
Mr John Wilfred Peace (Deputy Chairman); Mr James Frederick Trevor Dundas; Ms Valerie Frances Gooding, CBE; Mr Rudolph Harold Peter Markham; Ms Ruth Markland; Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal; Mr John Gregor Hugh Paynter; Mr Paul David Skinner and Mr Oliver Henry James Stocken.

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For further details please contact:

Hong Kong
Investors: Ashia Razzaq +852 2820 3958
Media: Gabriel Kwan +852 2820 3036

London
Investors: Steve Atkinson, Head of Investor Relations, +44 20 7885 7245
Media: Tim Baxter, Head of External Communications +44 20 7885 5573

Note to Editors:

Standard Chartered PLC
Standard Chartered PLC, listed on both London and Hong Kong stock exchanges, ranks among the top 25 companies in the FTSE-100 by market capitalisation. The London-headquartered Group has operated for over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets, leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Its income and profits have more than doubled over the last five years primarily as a result of organic growth and supplemented by acquisitions.

Standard Chartered aspires to be the best international bank for its customers across its markets. The Bank derives more than 90 per cent of its operating income and profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, generated from its Wholesale and Consumer Banking businesses. The Group has around 1,750 branches and outlets located in over 70 countries. The extraordinary growth of its markets and businesses creates exciting and challenging international career opportunities.

Leading by example to be the right partner for its stakeholders, the Group is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity. It employs 75,000 people, nearly half of whom are women. The Group's employees are of 115 nationalities, of which 60 are represented among senior management.

For more information, please visit: www.standardchartered.com