Standard Chartered PLC — M&A Activity 2008

Feb 20, 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 – Whistlejacket Capital Limited

20 February 2008

Further to our announcement made on 11 February 2008, Standard Chartered has withdrawn the conditional proposals made to the receiver of Whistlejacket Capital Ltd ("Whistlejacket"). This is as a result of a number of factors, including the pace of continuing deterioration in the market for certain asset classes and the impracticality of completing any proposal within the confines of the receivership as it has evolved.

Standard Chartered is disappointed that it has been unable to find a viable solution to ensure flexibility for Whistlejacket due to these changes in circumstances.

For further details please contact:

Standard Chartered

Stephen Atkinson, Head of Investor Relations

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7280 7245

Stephen.Atkinson@standardchartered.com

Tim Baxter, Head of External Communications

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7457 5573

Tim.Baxter@standardchartered.com

Note to Editors:

Standard Chartered – leading the way in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

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 by being the right partner for its stakeholders and leading by example. The group now employs over 60,000 people, representing some 100 nationalities, in more than 1,400 branches located in over 50 countries. The bank generates more than 90 per cent of its profits from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with balanced income derived from both Wholesale and Consumer Banking.

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Standard Chartered

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

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 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.