Standard Chartered PLC — Share Issue/Capital Change 2009

Mar 27, 2009

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this document, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document.

STANDARD CHARTERED PLC

(渣打集團有限公司)

(the "Company")

(Registered in England and Wales number 966425)

(Stock Code: 02888)

Grant of Share Options

This announcement is made pursuant to Rule 17.06A of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

The Company announces that on 11 March 2009, options (the "Options") to acquire 1,664,978, 515,719 and 426,166 Ordinary shares of USD0.50 each in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") were granted to persons discharging managerial responsibilities under the Company's Performance Share Plan ("PSP"), Restricted Share Scheme ("RSS") and Supplementary Restricted Share Scheme ("SRSS") respectively at nil exercise price. Amongst the Options granted on 11 March 2009, options granted to the directors and chief executive were as follows:

Name of Grantee	Name of Share Scheme	Number of options granted
Peter Sands*	PSP	356,481
	RSS	84,231
Steve Bertamini	PSP	159,033
	RSS	28,437
Gareth Bullock	PSP	146,604
	RSS	31,292
Richard Meddings	PSP	220,370
	RSS	53,514

• Group chief executive

The closing market price of the Shares on the London Stock Exchange on the date of grant was £7.985.

Under the Company's PSP, options are exercisable after the third but before the tenth anniversary of the date of grant subject to performance criteria. Under the Company's RSS and SRSS, 50% of an award vests two years after the date of grant and the balance vests after three years. Award must be exercised by the seventh anniversary of the grant date.

By Order of the Board

Annemarie Durbin

Group Company Secretary

Hong Kong, 27 March 2009

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

Acting Chairman:
Mr John Wilfred Peace

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

Independent Non-Executive Directors:
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.