Standard Life Aberdeen's Gilbert on Earnings, Ambitions, Fees

The transcript covers a discussion on the inflows and market conditions following a merger, highlighting the diversification of assets and the company's strong position despite tough market conditions. It addresses the company's ambitions for growth, emphasizing the importance of scale in the industry. The conversation also touches on competition and talent retention, particularly in Edinburgh, and clarifies misconceptions about staff movements. The impact of declining fees and industry trends towards consolidation is discussed, along with the shift from active to passive fund management. Finally, insights are provided on the Sky deal and board decisions, particularly in light of the Disney-Fox merger.

What percentage of inflows are going into non-blockbuster products at Standard Life Aberdeen?

• 50%

• 60%

• 70%

• 80%

What was the initial ambition of Standard Life Aberdeen in terms of assets under management?

• 1.5 trillion dollars

• 500 billion dollars

• 1 trillion dollars

• 750 billion dollars

How did Standard Life Aberdeen address industry cost issues compared to competitors?

• Increased costs

• Maintained costs

• Reduced costs

• Ignored costs

What was the reaction of Standard Life Aberdeen to Aviva Investors setting up an office in Edinburgh?

• They felt threatened

• They were angry

• They were indifferent

• They were delighted

What is one of the major issues facing the industry according to the transcript?

• Declining fees

• Unchanged fees

• Increasing fees

• Stable fees

What strategy is being used by some funds to compensate for 0% fees?

• Increasing marketing efforts

• Reducing operational costs

• Stock lending

• Increasing management fees

What trend is affecting active fund managers in the industry?

• Increase in active management

• Stable active management

• Move from active to passive

• Move from passive to active