Standard Chartered PLC — M&A Activity 2008

Mar 7, 2008

Standard Chartered

STANDARD CHARTERED PLC

(渣打集團有限公司)

(Registered in England and Wales number 966425)

(Stock Code: 2888)

STANDARD CHARTERED PLC - DISPOSAL OF INDIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT BUSINESS

Standard Chartered to sell Standard Chartered Trustee Company Private Limited and Standard Chartered Asset Management Company Private Limited

Standard Chartered PLC ("Standard Chartered") announces that it has agreed to sell Standard Chartered Trustee Company Private Limited and Standard Chartered Asset Management Company Private Limited, including minorities, to Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited ("IDFC") for a total cash consideration of approximately USD205 million. The consideration is before deductions for local taxes and deal expenses.

The companies mentioned above represent the mutual fund manufacturing business of Standard Chartered in India. The transaction does not include Standard Chartered's mutual fund distribution business which Standard Chartered will continue to pursue.

Jaspal Bindra, Chief Executive Officer, Asia, said: "IDFC is a well respected financial services company and we are delighted to have reached an agreement with them for the sale of this business. Standard Chartered will remain a distributor of asset management products in India. India is a key market and delivered record results in 2007."

This transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, and is expected to complete in the second quarter of 2008.

By Order of the Board

Annemarie Durbin

Group Company Secretary

7 March 2008

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

Chairman:
Mr Evan Mervyn Davies, CBE

Executive Directors:
Mr Peter Alexander Sands; Mr Gareth Richard Bullock; Mr Michael Bernard DeNoma and Mr Richard Henry Meddings;

Independent Non-Executive Directors:
Mr John Wilfred Peace; Sir CK Chow; Mr James Frederick Trevor Dundas; Ms Valerie Frances Gooding, CBE; Mr Rudolph Harold Peter Markham; Ms Ruth Markland; Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal; Mr Paul David Skinner; Mr Oliver Henry James Stocken and Lord Adair Turner.

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For further information, contact:

Investors

Piotr Zajac
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
+44 (0)20 7280 6454
Piotr.A.Zajac@standardchartered.com

Ashia Razzaq
Head of Investor Relations, Asia Pacific
+852 2820 3958
Ashia.Razzaq@standardchartered.com

Press

Arijit De
Head of Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0)20 7280 7163
Arijit.De@standardchartered.com

Note to Editors:

Standard Chartered PLC

Standard Chartered PLC, listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, 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 the number of employees 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 in its markets through leading by example to be the right partner for its stakeholders. The group now employs 73,000 people, representing 115 nationalities, in more than 1,700 branches and outlets located in over 70 countries. The bank derives more than 90 per cent of its operating income and profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with balanced income derived from both Wholesale and Consumer Banking.

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

Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited

Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited ("IDFC") was incorporated in 1997 as a public limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. IDFC listed its equity shares in India pursuant to an initial public offering in August 2005. As at 31 December 2007, IDFC's shareholders included the Government of India 20%, foreign investors (including Government of Singapore, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, IFC, AIG amongst others) - 49% and public / others 31%. As of 5 March 2008, IDFC's market capitalisation was approximately USD5.8 billion.

IDFC's existing businesses, directly and through its subsidiaries, include project finance, principal investments, asset management (for third party funds), investment banking, institutional broking (through IDFC-SSKI), and advisory services.