Environics ranks Standard Life Mutual Funds' sales teams among the best in the industry

MONTREAL, Nov. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Standard Life Mutual Funds Ltd. sales teams have been recognized by the industry in the Environics' 2010 Advisor Perception Study.

For the second year in a row, advisors ranked Standard Life Mutual Funds' external sales teams among the first in the Overall Quality of Wholesaler category. Furthermore, they ranked first in seven of nine criteria measuring quality of wholesaler, such as providing constructive marketing advice and following up as promised.

Standard Life Mutual Funds' internal sales team also ranked among the first in the Overall Quality category. This is the first time Environics has measured the performance of internal sales teams in the same manner as external teams.

"The quality of service our wholesalers offer to advisors is crucial in our business. It's important for us to make it easy for them to work with Standard Life and to simplify their job so they can spend more time growing their business. We are proud of this recognition and we value advisors' opinions and their confidence in our teams. We will continue our work to maintain and increase their trust, respect and business," said Mick Kelly, Vice-President, Sales, Retail Markets at Standard Life.

Conducted by Environics for the past ten years, the Advisor Perception Study provides a look at how mutual fund companies are performing at the brand level from the personal financial advisor's point of view. Headquartered in Toronto, Environics is one of Canada's leading marketing and social survey research consultancies with a reputation for integrity, accuracy and insight. Since its foundation in 1970, the firm has evolved into a multi-disciplined international research and consulting group.

About Standard Life
Established in 1825, Standard Life is a leading provider of long-term savings and investment solutions to over 6 million customers worldwide. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, Standard Life has around 10,000 employees across the UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Austria, India, USA, Hong Kong and mainland China. It had C$284.6 billion in assets under administration, as of June 30, 2010.

In 2006, after 80 years as a mutual company, The Standard Life Assurance Company demutualized and Standard Life plc was listed on the London Stock Exchange. Standard Life plc now has approximately 1.5 million shareholders in over 50 countries, including 13,000 in Canada.

In Canada, Standard Life has been doing business for over 175 years. Standard Life Financial Inc., which wholly owns The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada and Standard Life Mutual Funds Ltd., is Standard Life plc's largest operation outside the UK. With over 2,000 employees based in Montréal and in offices across Canada, it provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.3 million Canadians, including group insurance and retirement plan members. It had C$36.3 billion of assets under administration, as at June 30, 2010.

For further information:

Valérie Lamarre
Advisor, External Communications and Public Affairs
514-499-7999, ext. 8150
[email protected]